Alabama’s Forest Road Map 2020 The Forest Action Plan of the Alabama Forestry Commission Est. 1924 Welcome from the state forester Rick Oates, State Forester t is interesting how time modifies your perspective. Ten years ago, while working for the Alabama Forestry Association, I was asked to provide feedback in the development of the 2010 Alabama Forest Action Plan, Forests at the Crossroads. At the time I did not fully understand the importance of the Forest Action Plan to our state’s forest resources. IFast forward ten years and I am now the State Forester of Alabama, with a much better understanding of what this doc- ument means to the state. I now have the responsibility of updating this important plan. As such, it is with pride that I offer the 2020 Alabama Forest Action Plan, Alabama’s Forest Roadmap as a guide for all forestry stakeholders to reference over the next decade. This guide will serve as a tool to help our state better understand and manage this amazing resource. Alabama is blessed with abundant forest resources – 23.1 million acres - which cover more than two-thirds of the state. These forests improve water and air quality, provide wildlife habitat, support a growing forest industry and help provide jobs across the state. Without these forests Alabama would be a very different place. As such, we want to see forests remain as working forests in order to continue to accrue these important benefits. That is not to say there are not challenges associ- ated with our forest resource, but the assessment and strategies discussed in this document will be instrumental in raising awareness, implementing solutions and taking a step towards achieving this goal. Of course, we would not be able to achieve any success without the benefit of our important partners in forest conserva- tion in Alabama. Too numerous to name here, you will see how these many partners will play a critical role in the imple- mentation and success stories that will result over the next ten years. These stakeholder partners, individuals and organiza- tions, have made contributions to this document which have made it a better tool for the citizens of the state. A list of them can be found on page 5. I also want to recognize the many contributions from the leadership and agency personnel of the Alabama Forestry Commission who have made this document a reality. Perspectives ranging from an agency commissioner to an entry level forester have been incorporated. Because of this, whether your interest is that of a private landowner who loves your family forest, a corporate forest manager who controls thousands of acres of forest land, a naturalist who loves the land for its beauty and intrinsic value, or a wildlife biologist who is improving the forest for the varied fauna that occupy these lands, this document should speak to you and affirm that there are many unique ways to view a forest. Each one of them being essential and important. Thanks to everyone involved, and let’s hope the next decade of forestry in Alabama lives up to the challenges and solutions presented here. It will be interesting to see, ten years from now, when the Alabama Forestry Commission is once again challenged to update this document, how different and hopefully better our forests will be! Sincerely, Rick Oates, State Forester Forest Action Plan Executive Committee • Joseph H. Twardy, AFC Commissioner, Vice Chairman • Dr. Richard W. Brinker, Forest Action Plan Facilitator; Dean Emeritus, Auburn University School of Forestry & Wildlife Sciences • Rick Oates, State Forester • William H. Brantley Jr., AFC Forest Management Division Director Forest Action Plan Steering Committee • Bruce Springer, Assistant State Forester • Dan Chappell, AFC Forest Inventory Analysis Coordinator • John Goff, AFC Forest Protection Division Director • Jason Dockery, AFC Northeast Regional Forester • Darci DeBrunner, AFC Stewardship Coordinator • Bayne Moore, AFC Work Unit Manager • Cole Sikes, AFC Multimedia Specialist Writing & Editing Team • Dan Chappell, AFC Forest Inventory Analysis (Lead Author & Coordinator ) • Darci DeBrunner, AFC Stewardship Coordinator • Dana Stone, AFC Forest Health Specialist • Elishia Ballentine, AFC Public Information Manager • Cole Sikes, AFC Multimedia Specialist • Gary Faulkner, AFC Economic Development Specialist • Abi Dhakal, AFC GIS Specialist • Dale Dickens, AFC Urban Forestry Coordinator • Katie Wiswall, AFC Urban Forester • Hunter Moncrief, AFC Cost-Share Coordinator Table of Contents List of Stakeholders 5 Executive Summary 6 Chapter 1: Conditions and Trends Affecting Alabama’s Forest Resource 10 Introduction 10 Alabama’s Current Forest Conditions 13 Forest and Products Industry 15 Forest Ecosystem Services 17 Biodiversity 18 Carbon Sequestration 20 Forest Ownership 21 Forest Resource Management Practices 22 Prescribed Burning 24 Reforestation 25 Urban & Community Forestry 26 Forest Health 28 Chapter 2: Key Drivers of Change to Alabama’s Forest Resource 33 Direct Drivers 33 Indirect Drivers 35 Chapter 3: Threats to Alabama’s Forest Resource 37 Forest Fragmentation 37 Invasive Species 38 Changing Markets / Rural Development Issues 40 Adverse Weather Events 41 Forest Health 43 Loss of Ecosystem Services 45 Capacity to Fill Education Directive 45 Chapter 4: Establishment of Priority Areas 46 Multi-State Priority Areas 48 Long-Term Strategies to Address Threats 53 Forest Fragmentation 53 Invasive Species 55 Changing Markets/Rural Development Issues 56 Adverse Weather Events 58 Forest Health 60 Loss of Ecosystem Services 63 Capacity to Fulfill Education Directive 66 Chapter 5: Incorporation of Other Plans and Relevant AFC Program Areas 68 Appendix 1: Forest Action Plan Works Cited 74 Appendix 2: Forest Types and Trends by Ecoregion 81 Appendix 3: Forest Types of Alabama 97 Appendix 4: Priority Area/Threats Matrix 99 Appendix 5: Alabama Natural Resources Council 101 Appendix 6: Forest Legacy Assessment of Need 102 Appendix 7: Community Wildfire Protection Plan 103 List of Stakeholders • Alabama A&M University School of Forestry • Alabama Soil and Water Troy Bowman, Forest Economics & Policy Conservation Committee Dr. Kozma Naka Dr. William Puckett Senior forestry students • Alabama Urban Forestry Association • Alabama Association of Conservation Russell Stringer Districts • Alabama Urban Forestry Association Sabra Sutton, Executive Director Matthew Morgan, Landscape Production Mgr, AL Dept of Finance — • Alabama Cooperative Extension System • American Forest Foundation Dr. Eve Brantley Chris Erwin • Alabama Department of Agriculture • Association of Consulting Foresters, and Industries Alabama Chapter Bob Plaster Brandon Smith • Alabama Department of Conservation and • Auburn University School of Forestry and Natural Resources Wildlife Sciences | Alabama Cooperative Doug Deaton Extension System Chris Smith Dr. Adam Maggard Drew Nix Galen Grider • Geological Survey of Alabama Dr. Amy Hunter Bennett Bearden Greg Guthrie • Alabama Department of Environmental Stuart McGregor Management Aaron Peters • Longleaf Alliance Ryan Mitchell • Alabama Farm Service Agency Shanequa Bowman-Green • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Tim Albritton • Alabama Farmers Federation / Alabama Treasure Forest Association • USDA Forest Service Paul Pinyan Dagmar Thurmond Eugene Brooks • Alabama Forest Owners Association Arvind Bhuta Lee Laechelt • Alabama Forestry Association • USDA Forest Service / Tuskegee University Natasha James Brigetta Giles Leigh Peters • Georgia State Director, The Conservation Fund • Alabama Forestry Commission Andrew Schock Commissioner Katrenia Kier • The Nature Conservancy Commissioner Joseph H. Twardy, FAP Steering Committee Liaison Steve Northcutt Dan Chappell, Forest Inventory & Analysis Coordinator Mitch Reid Dick Brinker, Forest Action Plan Facilitator • Tuskegee University College of Agriculture, Gary Faulkner, Economic Development Coordinator Environment, and Nutrition Studies Jason Dockery, NE Regional Forester Dr. Walter Hill Bayne Moore, Work Unit Manager John Goff, Protection Division Director Will Brantley, Management Division Director Rick Oates, State Forester Bethany Elliott, Management Division 5 Marti Davis, Protection Division Executive SummaryForest Action Plan – 2020 Executive Summary The Forest Action Plan – 2020 is an introspection of the 2010 Plan, Forests at the Crossroads and an evaluation of where we are, and where we want to go. There are three priorities in the 2020 Plan: 1. Create a common tool for use by stakeholders from across the state as we seek to conserve and manage working forest landscapes for multiple values and uses. 2. The Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) must not cease to protect the forest from threats. 3. The overall goal of this plan is to enhance public benefits from trees and forests. Stakeholder Engagement The outlining of threats and strategies to address them has been an undertaking which has only been possible by discussion with and input from many quarters. This engagement, which is continuous, was given its official Forest Action Plan-focused kickoff on February 15, 2019. The Plan is an effort to examine current conditions, trends, threats, and strategies for the AFC to use as a guide to ensure healthy Alabama forests into the future. The Plan is divided into four chapters plus several appendices. Chapter 1 – Conditions and Trends Affecting Alabama’s Forest Resource Alabama’s 23.0 million acres of forests are an abundant, diverse, and treasured resource that provide tremendous economic, environmental,