Working Forests for a Healthy Virginia
What are working forests?
Most of Virginia is covered in trees!
Over 2/3 of Virginia is forested – that’s 16 million acres of forests!
Working forests are intentionally managed to provide a variety of benefits. Intentional management includes activities such as:
- Tree planting
- Timber harvesting
- Prescribed burning
- Invasive species control
Working forests undergo a continuous cycle of regeneration and, growing, often with the inclusion of harvesting to intentionally regenerate new forests. This cycle provides a variety of habitat types for plants and wildlife while protecting our water supply, keeping people healthy, and supporting strong economies. All of which are essential for keeping land forested – and not converted to other uses.
Healthy wildlife refers to populations of wild animals that are thriving in their environment and are resilient to change. This includes the ability to cope with environmental stresses, recover from disturbances, and maintain a healthy genetic diversity. Healthy wildlife goes beyond the absence of disease, to include a dynamic state of well-being that encompasses biological, environmental, and social factors.
Virginia is home to a remarkable diversity of wildlife, including over 400 species of birds, 140 species of mammals, 200 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 250 species of fish.
Some species, such as pileated woodpeckers, gray catbirds, eastern box turtles, and rusty-patched bumblebees all require mature forests. Other species, such as wood turtles, woodcock, indigo bunting and bobwhite quail, require young forests. To maximize the number of species across the landscape, both mature and young forests are needed.
In general, forests in Virginia are getting older. For decades, the area of mature forests has been increasing and the area of young forests has been decreasing. This means the availability of young forest habitat is also declining.
Active management activities such as timber harvesting transition a mature forest into a young forest. Young forests grow back quickly after timber harvests and provide much needed food and cover for many species of wildlife.
Revenue from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses is used to fund sustainable management and species recovery efforts.
In 2023, wildlife-related recreation brought in over $1.4 billion to Virginia's economy.
Healthy wildlife refers to populations of wild animals that are thriving in their environment and are resilient to change. This includes the ability to cope with environmental stresses, recover from disturbances, and maintain a healthy genetic diversity. Healthy wildlife goes beyond the absence of disease, to include a dynamic state of well-being that encompasses biological, environmental, and social factors.
Virginia is home to a remarkable diversity of wildlife, including over 400 species of birds, 140 species of mammals, 200 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 250 species of fish.
Some species, such as pileated woodpeckers, gray catbirds, eastern box turtles, and rusty-patched bumblebees all require mature forests. Other species, such as wood turtles, woodcock, indigo bunting and bobwhite quail, require young forests. To maximize the number of species across the landscape, both mature and young forests are needed.
In general, forests in Virginia are getting older. For decades, the area of mature forests has been increasing and the area of young forests has been decreasing. This means the availability of young forest habitat is also declining.
Active management activities such as timber harvesting transition a mature forest into a young forest. Young forests grow back quickly after timber harvests and provide much needed food and cover for many species of wildlife.
Revenue from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses is used to fund sustainable management and species recovery efforts.
In 2023, wildlife-related recreation brought in over $1.4 billion to Virginia's economy.
Healthy water is a combination of clean and abundant water.
Clean water is essential for humans and wildlife. Clean water is cool, contains low amounts of sediments, has a pH close to neutral, contains sufficient dissolved oxygen to support fish and aquatic plants, and has good nutrient availability.
Plentiful water is abundant enough to meet the needs of ecosystems, humans, and wildlife. Each American uses an average of 82 gallons of water a day. With over 8.8 million people living in Virginia, that amounts to 2.64 BILLION gallons a year.
The amount of water wildlife needs varies greatly, depending on the species. For example, a black bear in Virginia needs at least 2 gallons of water a day. With a conservative estimate of about 18,000 black bears in Virginia, that’s 13 million gallons a year.
Approximately half of Virginia’s municipal drinking water is captured and cleaned by working forests in the commonwealth. Public drinking water sources include rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, springs and groundwater. But before it makes its way to your faucet, utilities need to make sure the water is safe and drinkable. This means investing in infrastructure to filter and treat water.… OR it can mean investing in nature’s best, cheapest water purification system – forests.
Well-managed forests are essential to Virginia’s drinking water. Runoff from impervious surfaces, such as pavement and rooftops, travels quickly and carries pollutants. Trees and forests filter out many of those pollutants by slowing down the runoff, allowing the pollutants to settle out of the water as it moves over the forest floor. They also reduce the volume of runoff by allowing more time for the water to infiltrate the soil where water either helps sustain the forest’s plant life or recharges aquifer.
Vibrant rural and urban forests also help to prevent sediment from entering bodies of water by holding the soil in place with their roots.
Virginia is serious about protecting water supplies. There are two state-wide water quality laws that protect water during timber harvesting operations. In addition, there are local and Chesapeake Bay-related laws. Every timber harvest in Virginia is inspected by the Virginia Department of Forestry for water quality violations.
Virginia also has Best Management Practices (BMPs) which are implemented during forest management activities that help protect water quality.
Healthy water is a combination of clean and abundant water.
Clean water is essential for humans and wildlife. Clean water is cool, contains low amounts of sediments, has a pH close to neutral, contains sufficient dissolved oxygen to support fish and aquatic plants, and has good nutrient availability.
Plentiful water is abundant enough to meet the needs of ecosystems, humans, and wildlife. Each American uses an average of 82 gallons of water a day. With over 8.8 million people living in Virginia, that amounts to 2.64 BILLION gallons a year.
The amount of water wildlife needs varies greatly, depending on the species. For example, a black bear in Virginia needs at least 2 gallons of water a day. With a conservative estimate of about 18,000 black bears in Virginia, that’s 13 million gallons a year.
Approximately half of Virginia’s municipal drinking water is captured and cleaned by working forests in the commonwealth. Public drinking water sources include rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, springs and groundwater. But before it makes its way to your faucet, utilities need to make sure the water is safe and drinkable. This means investing in infrastructure to filter and treat water.… OR it can mean investing in nature’s best, cheapest water purification system – forests.
Well-managed forests are essential to Virginia’s drinking water. Runoff from impervious surfaces, such as pavement and rooftops, travels quickly and carries pollutants. Trees and forests filter out many of those pollutants by slowing down the runoff, allowing the pollutants to settle out of the water as it moves over the forest floor. They also reduce the volume of runoff by allowing more time for the water to infiltrate the soil where water either helps sustain the forest’s plant life or recharges aquifer.
Vibrant rural and urban forests also help to prevent sediment from entering bodies of water by holding the soil in place with their roots.
Virginia is serious about protecting water supplies. There are two state-wide water quality laws that protect water during timber harvesting operations. In addition, there are local and Chesapeake Bay-related laws. Every timber harvest in Virginia is inspected by the Virginia Department of Forestry for water quality violations.
Virginia also has Best Management Practices (BMPs) which are implemented during forest management activities that help protect water quality.
There are eight aspects of human well-being. These include physical, social, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, environmental, occupational, and financial well-being.
According to an article published in the Harvard Medical School magazine; "There is no one pharmaceutical or precision medicine tool that could ever have the broad benefits of a forest.”
Virginia’s forest dominated landscape from coast to mountains provides opportunities to help people stay active, such as hiking, biking, camping, fishing, hunting, and bird watching. Old logging roads in working forests provide access and places to walk. These activities, when done with others, also strengthen social bonds and sense of community. Working forests with a diversity of forest types and habitats are emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually stimulating.
Working forests create a healthy environment by removing pollutants from our air and water. They are sustainable and provide satisfying and purposeful work to those whose occupations involve working in them as well as a livelihood.
There are eight aspects of human well-being. These include physical, social, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, environmental, occupational, and financial well-being.
According to an article published in the Harvard Medical School magazine; "There is no one pharmaceutical or precision medicine tool that could ever have the broad benefits of a forest.”
Virginia’s forest dominated landscape from coast to mountains provides opportunities to help people stay active, such as hiking, biking, camping, fishing, hunting, and bird watching. Old logging roads in working forests provide access and places to walk. These activities, when done with others, also strengthen social bonds and sense of community. Working forests with a diversity of forest types and habitats are emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually stimulating.
Working forests create a healthy environment by removing pollutants from our air and water. They are sustainable and provide satisfying and purposeful work to those whose occupations involve working in them as well as a livelihood.
Healthy economies have low unemployment, stable prices, steady growth, a fair distribution of income and opportunities, and a diverse industrial base.
Forestry is the third largest industry in Virginia, contributing $23.6 billion a year, supporting over 108,000 jobs, and paying landowners $319 million. This critical industry depends on working forests. Manufacturing forest products, making products from trees, is the main contributor to this economic impact.
Working forests provide wood and fiber for items we use every day, such as housing, lumber, flooring, paper, boxes, charcoal, bourbon barrels, firewood, musical instruments, and packaging. Furthermore, when trees are turned into long-lived wood products, sequestered carbon is captured for years to come, beyond the life of the tree(s).
Healthy economies have low unemployment, stable prices, steady growth, a fair distribution of income and opportunities, and a diverse industrial base.
Forestry is the third largest industry in Virginia, contributing $23.6 billion a year, supporting over 108,000 jobs, and paying landowners $319 million. This critical industry depends on working forests. Manufacturing forest products, making products from trees, is the main contributor to this economic impact.
Working forests provide wood and fiber for items we use every day, such as housing, lumber, flooring, paper, boxes, charcoal, bourbon barrels, firewood, musical instruments, and packaging. Furthermore, when trees are turned into long-lived wood products, sequestered carbon is captured for years to come, beyond the life of the tree(s).
Do you own a forest?
If you own a forest and want to make it work for wildlife, people, water, and/or the economy, Virginia has professionals and resources to help you get started:
Offers a variety of science-based programs to help you learn about the forest management options available to you.
Professional foresters are available to serve family woodland owners in every Virginia county. Most services are free.
Offers science-based educational programs that teach landowners how to improve the health and productivity of their forests and farmlands.
The goal of the committee is to ensure that forests in Virginia are managed wisely and that these forests will be able to supply the recreational, environmental and commercial needs of future generations.