USGBC Louisiana 2017 Green Report Online

Natural Resources
Forestry
Louisiana’s forestlands cover 48% of the
state’s area or 13.8 million acres. Private,
non-industrial landowners own 62 percent
of the state’s forestland, forest products
industries own 29 percent and the general
public owns 9 percent. This renewable
resource provides the raw material for
Louisiana’s second largest manufacturing
employer – the forest products industry –
with over 900 firms in 45 parishes directly
employing over 25,000 people. An
additional 8,000 people are employed in
the harvesting and transportation of the
resource. Louisiana’s forests provide a
multitude of other benefits, including clean
air and water, wildlife habitat, recreational
opportunities and scenic beauty.
wood, however there is no requirement for forest
landowners to participate in these certification programs.
The three most recognizable sustainable forestry
certification programs are American Tree Farm System,
Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and the more rigorous,
Forest Stewardship Council.
The state’s Forestry Productivity Program provides
financial assistance to eligible landowners to offset
landowners’ costs of establishing a crop - with a few
stipulations regarding their forestry practices - and helps
with the state’s reforestation efforts. In 2013, 268
applications covering 21,767 acres for a total of $1.8
million for reforestation activities were approved under the
FPP.
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the
Louisiana Forestry Association, and other nonprofit
organizations promote sustainable forestry management
practices to protect the future of our forests. There are
forestry management certification systems that set
standards to encourage environmentally sound practices
and protect against the importation of illegally harvested