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Florida Forest service

director's desk

Jim kareLS, State ForeSter

Working to Secure Federal and State Aid

tiMber daMage froM hurricane Michael up-front costs that are not realized on their investment until
ranges from catastrophic (95% loss) to harvest. With this overwhelming loss of income, these landowners
severe (75% loss) and moderate (15% loss), have little incentive to reforest their land.
totalling an estimated 2.8 million acres
across the Florida Panhandle. More than
1.3 million acres of pine timber sustained
catastrophic and severe damage with
additional pockets of blowdown in the
moderate loss area. Timely clean-up and
reforestation is critical as this vital resource
provides healthy watersheds and is essential
to the local economies, especially in the
hardest hit counties who rely heavily on the
forest industry.

To assist forest landowners with reforestation and help bridge
the gap in their investment, the Florida Forest Service is working
to secure federal and state aid. The emergency request includes
crop loss payments for landowners committed to reforestation
and a cost share program that will be used to pay for site
preparation, seedlings and planting site-appropriate species.

Daily recovery efforts remain challenging, yet the Florida Forest
Service will continue to educate those who may not be keenly
aware of the impact Hurricane Michael made on the Florida
Panhandle. We will keep fighting to get the help needed to
reforest and rebuild our communities, ensuring the availability
of quality forest products now and for future generations.

Over 16,000 forest landowners in the
Panhandle were impacted by Michael and
have few options for recovery. Unlike annual
crops, timberland insurance is not commonly
available. In addition, forest landowners have

Vol 30 Issue 1 2019 • SWPA Out of the Woods • swpa.ag • 11