According to the update recently released by the Southern Research Station (SRS) Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program, forest land in Kentucky covers an estimated 12.4 million acres, remaining the same from he last reported data.
The report—compiled from data collected by the Kentucky Division of Forestry’s FIA program—also includes information about forest composition, common trees, forest land ownership, standing-tree wood volume and average growth and removals.
“Kentucky’s forest resources have shown very little fluctuation since the previous annual inventory,” said Leah MacSwords, director for the Kentucky Division of Forestry. “In fact, Kentucky’s landscape has remained on average about 45% forested for the past 50 years.”
One of the most important indicators listed in the report is growth to removal. The report notes that Kentucky’s forests are producing two times more wood volume than is being removed. While wood-using industries have been affected by the slowing economy, Kentucky’s forests continue to “stand ready” for economic development opportunities in rural areas of the state.
From The USDA SRS Blog: https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/compass/2012/09/11/latest-forest-inventory-for-kentucky-2/