Alabama’s Draft Forest Legacy Program Assessment of Need Document

July 20, 2001  --FOR REVIEW ONLY.  TO BE UPDATED.

Table of Contents

Statement of Purpose    *

Acknowledgements      *

Introduction      *

The "Working Forest" Concept *

Authorization and Implementation          *

Alabama's Forests        *

The Forest Resource    *

Historical Perspective   *

Current Use      *

Natural Diversity           *

Natural Communities    *

Rare Species    *

Topography, Geology, and Soils           *

Climate *

Significant Watersheds  *

Recreation Opportunities          *

Cultural Resources        *

Mineral Resources        *

Timber Management Opportunities       *

Land Tenure     *

Forest Ownership         *

Characteristics of Forest Landowners   *

Forest Ownership Trends         *

Forest Resource Trends and Threats     *

Parcelization     *

Public Concern *

Threats to Forestlands  *

Forest Fragmentation    *

Parcelization of Forestland        *

Existing Programs to Conserve Forestlands       *

State Programs *

Non-government Programs       *

Forest Industry Programs          *

State Laws, Regulations, and Tax Incentives      *

Public Participation and Issues  *

Public Participation in the FLP  *

Public Issues     *

Alabama's Forest Legacy Program        *

Alabama Designated Forest Legacy Areas with Descriptions     *

Upper Southwest Forest Legacy Area  *

APPENDIX A: Alabama Forest Legacy Landowner Application Package         *

APPENDIX B: Authorization Documents          *

APPENDIX C: Public Involvement Process      *

APPENDIX D: Literature Cited            *

Statement of Purpose

Of Alabama's 21.9 million of forestland, about 95 percent is privately owned. These private forests, valued for so many resources and different objectives, are being developed for housing, retail and manufacturing, and infrastructure, and are also being subdivided into smaller and smaller parcels. Economic pressures on forest owners, such as escalating land values and property and inheritance taxes, lead to the conversion of rural areas into suburbs and suburban areas into extended towns and cities. Alabama's population increased by more that eight percent in the 1990s to 4.45 million people, and is projected by the U.S. Census Bureau to increase by an additional 17 percent by 2025. The conversion of Alabama's forests to non-forest uses will continue as the state's population grows.

In 2000 the governor of Alabama appointed the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) as the state lead agency to develop and administer a Forest Legacy Program in Alabama. The purpose of the Forest Legacy Program (FLP) is to identify and protect environmentally important forest land from conversion to non-forest uses, through the use of conservation easements and fee purchases.

Guidelines for the Forest Legacy Program require the state lead agency to prepare an Assessment of Need (AON) to establish a state Forest Legacy Program in consultation with Alabama's State Forest Stewardship Committee (SFSC). With approval from the SFSC, the AFC has contracted with the Alabama Forest Resource Center (AFRC), a nonprofit land trust organization that deals with conservation easements on working forests in Alabama, to administer the FLP. The state grant option was selected for the AON, meaning all FLP acquisitions shall be transacted by the state with the title vested in the state. Landowner participation is entirely voluntary.

The Forest Legacy Subcommittee identified six Forest Legacy Areas in need of conservation and long-term forest management. Under the Forest Legacy Program, Alabama will exercise both the option to purchase conservation easements and the option for fee purchase. As these resources are protected, many traditional values and uses of the forests will continue to be available. The AON represents a commitment to the conservation of all natural resources in Alabama.

The following objectives were established to achieve the overall goal of protecting environmentally important private forestlands in Alabama threatened by conversion to non-forest uses under the FLP:

• Prevent conversions of forestlands to other uses.
• Preserve and protect fish and wildlife habitats, significant natural communities, and biological diversity.
• Preserve and protect riparian habitats.
• Preserve and protect water quality, fisheries, and water supplies.
• Preserve and protect natural beauty.
• Preserve and protect forest-based recreation opportunities.
• Preserve forestlands for current and future timber production.

As appropriate, periodic review and revision of this assessment will be made to meet the future needs of this program in Alabama.
 __________________________

Timothy Boyce, State Forester, Alabama Forestry Commission

Acknowledgements

The Stewardship Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Forest Legacy Assessment of Need (AON) Steering Committee for their many contributions throughout the AON document development process.

Note to reviewers: This is a list of invited participants. Subject to change.

Wendy Allen, Cahaba and Black Warrior River Land Trust
Pete Conroy, JSU Environmental Policy & Information Center, Director
Ted Devos, Regions Bank, Trust Forester, Wildlife Biologist
Ann Florie, Region 2020, Executive Director, Regional Planner
Dr. Katherine Flynn, The Nature Conservancy of Alabama, Director of Conservation Programs
Gary Fortenberry, President, Alabama TREASURE Forest Association
Jill A. Gardner, Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama, Executive Director
Jim Gooder, National Forests of Alabama, Forest Supervisor
Steve Guy, Alabama Farmers Federation, Director, Forestry and Soybeans
Keith Guyse, ADCNR Wildlife and Freshwater Fish Division, Assistant Chief
Jerry Johnson, Natural Resources Conservation Service, State Staff Forester
Rhett Johnson, Auburn University's Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center, Director, Forester
Keville Larson, Larson and McGowin, Consulting Forester, Landowner
Greg Lein, ADCNR State Lands Division, Natural Heritage Section, Director, Biologist
Bob McCollum, ADCNR Wildlife and Freshwater Fish Division, Nongame Coordinator, Biologist
John McGuire, The Longleaf Alliance, Forester
Brad McLane, Alabama Rivers Alliance, Director
Jim Moore, ADEM, Chief, Office of Education and Outreach
Fred T. Stimpson, Coastal Land Trust, Forester, Landowner
Vaughan Stough, McDonald Investment Company, Inc., Timber Investment Manager, Landowner
Dr. Larry Teeter, Auburn University Forest Policy Center, Director, Forester
Ken Wills, Jefferson County Health Department, Forest Ecologist

Forest Legacy AON Steering Committee Chairman
Dan Dumont, Executive Director, Alabama Forest Resources Center

2001 Alabama Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee

Individual/Agency/Organization/                                   

Art Dyas, President, Alabama Forest Resources Center (AFRC)         

Senator Ann Bedsole, MWS Land Company

Matt Bowden, Balch & Bingham          

Dr. Richard Brinker, Auburn University School of Forestry

Pat Byington, Southern Environmental Center   

Gay Dewitt, Boise Cascade     

Dr. Thomas Ellis

David Frederick, Alabama Forestry Commission

Tim Gothard, Alabama Wildlife Federation

Tom Kelly

Jessica Little, Larson & McGowin, Inc.

James Malone, TREASURE Forest Association

Dr. Jeff McCollum

John McMillan, Alabama Forestry Association

John McNeil, McNeil, Jackson, and Ahrens

William H. Stimpson

Ed Travis, Edward F. Travis Company

Bestor Ward, Ward Properties

Harold Winger

Montgomery Woods, Hamilton Woods Veneer
               

Introduction

The "Working Forest" Concept

Approximately 95% of Alabama's 22 million forested acres are in private ownership. The environmental, cultural, and economic benefits these diverse and abundant forested lands provide to the people of the state are enormous. Alabama's forests contain significant and biologically diverse natural communities, they provide ecosystem services such as watershed and air quality protection, and they have significant cultural, recreational, economic, and spiritual value to Alabamians. Long-term protection and stewardship is needed for many forest areas that possess such significant values. For purposes of this document, the term "working forests" encompasses all benefits and values healthy forests provide.

Alabama's growing and expanding population is placing pressures on landowners to convert their forestlands to other uses that are in conflict with important natural resource values and benefits. Fragmentation and the conversion of forestlands to other uses pose serious threats to the integrity and traditional values and uses of many privately owned working forests. The Forest Legacy Program is a voluntary mechanism to help protect forest-based benefits and values for current landowners and future generations.

Authorization and Implementation

To promote long-term integrity of forestlands, Congress established the Forest Legacy Program (FLP) as part of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade of Act of 1990. The Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, at the request of a state, to award grants for the state to carry out the FLP, including acquisition of lands and interests in lands. The stated purpose of the FLP is to protect, through purchase of conservation easements and fee-simple acquisitions, environmentally important privately-owned forest areas that are threatened by conversion to non-forest uses. For purposes of the Alabama FLP, environmentally important forests are defined by the possession of one or more of the following attributes: (1) contains globally, regionally, or nationally significant concentrations of biodiversity values; (2) consists of rare, threatened, or endangered ecosystems; (3) provides critical ecological functions (e.g., watershed protection); or (4) offers cultural, ecological, economic, or spiritual significance to the local community.

To participate in the FLP, each state must develop an Assessment of Need (AON), which identifies important forestlands, called Forest Legacy Areas (FLAs), in need of long-term protection and management. The maximum federal contribution for total program costs may not exceed 75 percent. Twenty-five percent of FLP costs may consist of matching funds or in-kind contributions from non-federal sources.

The Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) is the lead agency for the FLP in Alabama. AFC contracted with the Alabama Forest Resource Center (AFRC), a nonprofit land trust organization that deals with conservation easements on working forests in Alabama, to develop and administer the FLP. This AON was developed in accordance with Guidelines for Implementation of the Forest Legacy Program, USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Cooperative Forestry, dated August 15, 1996, and in consultation with the State Forest Stewardship Program (SFSP)..

The USDA Forest Service is available to work with states and private forest landowners to protect and manage environmentally important forest resources under the FLP through conservation easements or fee title transfers. Through use of easements, landowners may continue to manage and use their lands in a manner compatible with the resources they are protecting without giving up ownership. It should be emphasized that landowner participation in FLP, including the sale of lands and interests in lands, is entirely voluntary.

Eligibility of tracts of forestland for the FLP will be determined by a multi-step process involving the forestry and wildlife conservation community, state and federal agencies, and the general public. The primary objective will be the protection of forest tracts threatened by non-forest uses and focusing on important biologically diverse, recreation-rich, ecologically significant, and scenic areas in a context of the "working forest" land concept. The following resource analyses will form the backdrop and core data needed to develop Alabama's Forest Legacy Program.

Alabama's Forests

The Forest Resource

Alabama's 21.9 million acres of forestland cover two-thirds (67.6 percent) of the land area of the state. These forests are 34 percent pine, 20 percent oak-pine, 36 percent oak-hickory, and 10 percent bottomland hardwood (Figure 1). Longleaf pine, slash pine, loblolly pine, and shortleaf pine comprise the principal softwood species. Plantations comprise 46 percent of the pine type with loblolly pine being the principal planted tree. Dozens of hardwood species are present, with predominant representatives including oaks and hickories of several species, sweetgum, and yellow poplar. Pine-dominated forests are most prevalent in the Coastal Plain, but occur in all regions. Although 3.4 million acres of forest or former agricultural land have been converted to pine plantations, many areas that historically were dominated by pines have succeeded to hardwoods as a result of fire suppression (Figure 2). From 1982 to 1990, all forest types had increased in area by 2 to 3 percent, with the exception of bottomland hardwoods, which decreased by 9 percent (Vissage and Miller, 1990).

Figure 1. Alabama's Major Forest Types

Historical Perspective

The southeastern part of the North American continent has been forested for many millions of years. Forested swamps eventually became the coal deposits mined today. The early forests of club mosses and ferns were replaced by relatives of pines and cypress, and finally by mixed forests of evergreen and broad-leaved deciduous trees. About 20,000 years ago, when glaciers were not far from present-day Alabama, boreal forests of hemlock and fir predominated in the northern part of the state.

Around 12,000 years ago, the climate was still considerably cooler than that of today, and forests were dominated by beech and maple. It was at this time that the first people, the Paleo Indians, migrated into the South. By 7,000 years ago, a warmer and drier climate supported the oak-hickory and pine forest that has persisted to modern times. People made use of the forest for food, shelter, medicine, and tools. By 3,000 years ago, the Woodland culture was clearing patches of land for agriculture, which allowed them to settle for longer periods in an area (and

Figure 2. Historic Distribution of Major Forest Types
Many areas depicted as pine types are now dominated by hardwoods as a result of fire suppression.

therefore exert greater influence on the forest). Fire came into regular use as a tool to maintain openings, clear underbrush, enhance game forage, and a variety of other purposes. Because Native American settlements were frequently moved, the impact on the forest was a gradually changing mosaic of forest age, type, and condition.

When the English botanist William Bartram traveled through parts of Alabama and the Southeast in the late 1700s, he described "grassy savannas of scattered longleaf pines, abundant cane, and narrow groves of hardwood forest on the banks of streams" in the Coastal Plain. Fire, whether set by Native Americans or lightning-caused, clearly played a tremendous role in maintaining the vast longleaf pine forest of the region.

English naturalist Philip Henry Gosse visited Alabama in the late 1830s and described the "dense wall of towering trees" surrounding villages and plantations, and Black Belt prairies so free of trees that they resembled "clearings made by the axe of the settler" (Gosse, 1859). He wrote of the virgin deciduous forest of Dallas County: "There is inexpressible grandeur in these primeval forests. Many of the trees are of immense magnitude, and their trunks rise like pillars from the soft and damp soil, shooting upward in columnal majesty…And thus we see the original forest. The ground is commonly clear of underwood to a remarkable degree, so that it is by no means unusual for hunters to pursue their game on horseback at full speed through these sylvan recesses."

Although Native Americans frequently modified the forest for agriculture, large-scale exploitation of Alabama's forestlands for timber and agriculture began with the immigration of European settlers to Alabama in the early 1800s. The rise of a strong agricultural economy reduced the state's forestlands significantly. Philip Henry Gosse (1859) recorded the changing landscape in the 1830s, reporting fields of girdled and dead trees "so thickly spread over the land [that they] look[ed] like an army of skeletons stretching their gaunt, white arms." With the advent of agriculture, cleared land was often worth more than forested land, and by the early 1900s, much of the original forest had been cleared of trees.

After 1850, railroads began rapidly expanding in the South, and they consumed vast quantities of wood for ties, cars, fuel, bridges, and trestles. Each mile of track required over 2,500 crossties which had to be replaced every five to seven years (Burdette, 1995). Much of the timber produced in Alabama before the Civil War was milled into lumber for local use. After the war, reconstruction of damaged and destroyed buildings and infrastructure increased the demand for lumber and the number of sawmills multiplied. Depleted forests in the Northeast also created markets for southern timber.

The rich, vast stands of centuries-old longleaf pine drew the nation's lumber industry to Alabama and the Southeast. By the 1880s, sawmills were the dominant industry in the South (Burdette, 1995). Narrow gauge tram lines, improvements in steam-powered sawmill machinery, and other technological advances hastened the liquidation of Alabama's standing timber. "Cut out and get out" logging practices were widespread and wasteful.

By the late 1920s the old-growth forests were virtually gone, and millions of acres were cleared or degraded. Concern for the future of Alabama's forest was growing, and the Alabama Forestry Commission was established primarily as a fire control agency. Fire control, along with laws passed to eliminate free ranging livestock, allowed regeneration of forest that would otherwise have failed.

In the 1930s the Agricultural Conservation Program (ACP) was established to assist farmers in converting marginal farmlands to forestlands. Also during this period, the U.S. Forest Service began purchasing lands. Most lands acquired by the government were "worthless" worn out farmland or cut-over and burned former forestland. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) planted thousands of trees on these lands and created recreation sites.

After the Second World War, the pulp and paper industry grew rapidly in Alabama, taking advantage of the under-utilized native pines and low-grade hardwoods. During the next 40 years, industry purchased considerable amounts of forestland to intensively manage for wood fiber to satisfy future raw material demand. During this same period, agricultural areas were abandoned and fire control was improved, resulting in many old fields reverting back to forest.

Human activities have altered Alabama's forested landscapes far more than the casual observer would suspect. In age structure, appearance, and species composition, today's forest is very different from that described by early European settlers. The American chestnut blight in the early 1900s virtually extirpated a dominant and valuable species and drastically changed Alabama's deciduous forests. As described above, longleaf pine was the backbone of the early timber industry in the southern part of the state. The once-vast longleaf forests of Alabama and adjacent states are now reduced to a fraction of their former extent. While longleaf as a species is still common, functioning (i.e., periodically burned) longleaf ecosystems and certain plants and animals that depend upon them are becoming threatened.

Current Use

Today, most of Alabama's private forestlands are maintained with economic return from sale of timber as either a primary or secondary objective. Other major uses of private forestlands are as habitat for native game species and for hunting. The majority of owners have no established plan for managing their forestlands. Although many do not consider the need for a management plan until they decide to harvest timber, growing numbers of owners have multiple management objectives and actively seek technical assistance (often through the AFC's Treasure Forest Program) for managing their lands.

Alabama's forests and the industry they support contribute in excess of $5 billion to the state's annual economy, and Alabama's forest industry directly provides employment for 66,800 people. The forest products industry is the largest industry in Alabama, and timber is the dominant crop harvested in more than half (34) of the state's 67 counties.

Forests also provide economic value through non-timber products, tourism, and outdoor recreation. In 1996, 1.3 million Alabama residents 16 years old and older engaged in fishing, hunting, or wildlife-watching activities. Wildlife-associated recreation in Alabama generated $1.8 billion in 1996, including trip-related expenditures, equipment purchases, licenses, contributions, land ownership and leasing, and other items and services. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1996).

Natural Diversity

Natural Communities

The Nature Conservancy has identified 284 natural community types (unique plant associations) in Alabama, 178 of which are considered at risk (Association for Biodiversity Information, 2001) (Figure 3). Ranging from Appalachian cove hardwoods to prairies and glades to coastal dunes, these communities support a diversity of plant and animal species that is among the highest in the Nation. Alabama is especially rich in certain groups. For example, Alabama has more freshwater mussel, turtle, and fish species than any other state.

Alabama's exceptionally rich fauna is the result of its ancient and complex geological terrain (Figure 4) and abundant and diverse streams. Alabama was never scoured by Pleistocene glaciers, so the native flora and fauna continued to diversify and evolve during this period.

Forests furnish habitats for hundreds of wildlife species and protect and provide clean water for aquatic life that thrives in lakes and streams. Populations of game species such as deer and wild turkey are plentiful in virtually all counties of the state. Excellent fishing is available in streams and lakes throughout the state. Although usually not professionally managed or available for public use, the 15.8 million acres of non-industrial privately-owned forestlands provide the majority of habitat for wildlife and help satisfy public demand for consumptive and non-consumptive uses of wildlife.

 Figure to be added

Figure 3. Monitored Natural Communities of Alabama

Rare Species

Human activities have greatly influenced the diversity and abundance of Alabama's native species. With 95 species either known or presumed extinct or extirpated (Association for Biodiversity Information, 2001), Alabama tops the list of extinction-prone states on the mainland. Only Hawaii has lost more species. Although most of Alabama's extinct species are aquatic, terrestrial species have been greatly impacted by the loss of naturally diverse forests to agriculture, urbanization, and conversion to pine monoculture. Fire suppression has also been a major contributing factor, especially in the longleaf pine forests of the Coastal Plain. Loss of wetlands and the damming and alteration of many of Alabama's rivers and streams has lead to high levels of imperilment and extinction of fish, freshwater mussels, and snails.

Of Alabama's surviving plant and animal species, 916 species and/or subspecies are considered to be rare or imperiled (Association for Biodiversity Information, 2001) (Figure 4). Such forest-dependent species occurring primarily or exclusively above the Fall Line include the green pitcher plant, Price's potato-bean, green salamander, Appalachian cottontail, and gray bat. Rare or imperiled forest-dependent species occurring primarily or exclusively in the Coastal Plain include the panhandle lily, canebrake pitcher plant, Red Hills salamander, dusky gopher frog, gopher tortoise, red-cockaded woodpecker, Florida black bear, and southeastern pocket gopher.

 Figure to be added

Figure 4. Monitored Plants and Animals of Alabama

Government agencies such as the ADCNR and private conservation programs such as The Alabama Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, The Alabama Black Bear Alliance, Partners in Flight, the annual Breeding Bird Survey, and Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation monitor populations and threats to biodiversity and devise strategies to halt or reverse declines in populations of rare plant and animal species through research, education, and species recovery.

Topography, Geology, and Soils

Alabama's topography and geology is among the most varied of the southeastern states. Major physiographic provinces include the Highland Rim, Cumberland Plateau, Ridge and Valley, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain (Figure 5.). These are further subdivided into smaller distinct units that have characteristic soils and topography, supporting a variety of natural communities.

Figure 5. Physiographic Regions of Alabama

Alabama has a complex topography (Figure 6), with elevations ranging from sea level at the coast to 2,407 feet in the east-central part of the state. In the Highland Rim, topography ranges from level to very steep, with elevations of about 600 feet. The Cumberland Plateau is also highly variable in topography, with elevations of about 1,300 feet. The Piedmont is rolling to steep, and generally ranges from 300 to 700 feet. In the Talladega Mountains portion of the Piedmont, which floristically resembles an extension of the Blue Ridge into the state from Georgia, elevations may exceed 2,000 feet. The highly variable Coastal Plain ranges from near sea level near the coast to about 1,000 feet.

Figure 6. Topographic Relief Map of Alabama

Soils of Alabama are highly variable, reflecting the diverse topography (Figure 7). Alabama has seven major soil areas, each with several major soil series. A soil series is a part of the landscape with similarities among its properties such as color, texture, arrangement of soil horizons, and depth to bedrock. Alabama's most productive soils are found in the Tennessee Valley, the Ridge and Valley, and portions of the Coastal Plain.

Figure 7. General Soil Regions of Alabama

The Highland Rim, also known as Interior Low Plateau and Chert Belt, is in the extreme northern portion of the state. It includes the Tennessee and Moulton valleys. Geology is diverse, and primarily composed of limestone. Forests are predominantly oak-hickory, with some acidic soils supporting Virginia and shortleaf pine. Eastern redcedar is characteristic of the basic soils. Common trees include white, northern red, and black oak, and pignut, mockernut, shagbark, and bitternut hickory. Most of the more fertile lands are used for agriculture and pasture.

The Cumberland Plateau, or Appalachian Plateau, is a region in north-central Alabama composed of plateaus, mountain ridges, hills, and valleys. This region comprises Cumberland, Sand, Lookout, Gunter, Brindlee, Chandler and smaller mountains. Soils are derived from sandstone or shale. Most areas are too steeply sloping for agriculture and are forested. Dominant forests are pine-oak, and to a lesser extent, oak-hickory. Characteristic trees include white, northern red, black, and chestnut oak, pignut, mockernut, shagbark, and bitternut hickory, and loblolly, shortleaf, and Virginia pine.

The Ridge and Valley region, often called the "foothills of the Appalachians," is located southeast of the Cumberland Plateau and extends from the northeast corner to the center of the state. It is characterized by rugged topography with mountain ranges interspersed with hills and valleys. Soils are varied, derived from the sandstone ridges and limestone valleys, and range from clay to gravelly loams. Over half of the region has been cleared of forest, with the remainder in oak-pine forest. Trees typical of this region include white, northern red, black, and chestnut oak, and loblolly, shortleaf, and Virginia pine.

The Piedmont is a region of mostly rolling hills extending into central Alabama from Georgia. Where it meets the Ridge and Valley region along its northern boundary, it becomes somewhat mountainous, and contains Alabama's highest point, Mount Cheaha (elevation 2,407 feet). Clays and rocky soils are derived from granite, schist, and igneous rock. Soil productivity has been greatly decreased over much of the Piedmont due to poor farming practices in the 1800s and early 1900s. Many areas of depleted soils have reverted back to forest, but productivity is often low. Ridge tops are predominantly pine, with hardwoods on the lower slopes and bottomlands. Piedmont forests in Alabama are characterized by loblolly-shortleaf pine, large blocks of loblolly pine plantation, and to a lesser extent, mixed oak-pine. Major tree species include loblolly, shortleaf, and Virginia pine, white, northern red, black, chestnut, and scarlet oak, and hickories.

The Coastal Plain is separated from the more mountainous uplands by the Fall Line, which curves from the northwestern corner of Alabama to the Georgia border in east central Alabama. The Coastal Plain covers two-thirds of the state and extends to the Gulf of Mexico. Geologically, it is much younger than the upland regions and it lacks well-consolidated rocky formations. Most of the soils in this area are derived from marine and fluvial sediments eroded from the Appalachian and Piedmont plateaus. Topography is generally flat to gently rolling, but the Red Hills and Lime Hills sub-regions in southwest and south central Alabama may have relief of 200 to 300 feet. Longleaf, shortleaf, and loblolly pines dominate most upland forests, with slash pine in the lower areas and scattered areas of hardwoods. Floodplain forests contain oaks, ash, cypress, and tupelo gum. Under pre-settlement conditions, Coastal Plain upland forests naturally burned every few years, and fire-adapted species such as longleaf pine were predominant over much of the area.

The Coastal Plain includes a variety of geologically and topographically distinct sub-regions, generally appearing as east-west bands. From north to south these are the Fall Line Hills, Black Belt, Chunnenuggee Hills, Red Hills, Lime Hills, Southern Pine Hills, Dougherty Plain, and Coastal Lowlands.

The Fall Line Hills region is also known as the "Central Pine Belt," and has a diversity of soil types ranging from clay to sand. Longleaf pine predominates on the more well-drained soils, with hardwoods on the lower slopes.

The Black Belt, or Black Belt Prairie, extends in a crescent-shaped band across central Alabama. The region is named for the dark, calcareous, chalky soil, which is high in fertility. Most areas are highly alkaline and do not support pines, but eastern redcedar is abundant. Osage orange is a characteristic tree of fencerows and the remnant hardwood areas not cleared for agriculture.

The Chunnenuggee Hills, or Blue Marl Region, is a narrow band between the Black Belt and the Red Hills. Terrain is generally hilly, with sandy loam topsoils over sandy clay to clay subsoil. Loblolly and shortleaf pines predominate in the eastern portion, with post oak historically predominating in the western portion, an area sometimes referred to as the Post Oak Flatwoods.

The Red Hills is a band of fertile soil approximately 30 to 40 miles wide extending from Mississippi to Georgia. Topographic relief is far greater in the western portion, which is sometimes further subdivided into a region known as the Lime Hills. Rocky bluffs and deep ravines characterize the region. Ridge tops and upper slopes support longleaf, loblolly, and shortleaf pines, with a mixture of oaks. Bluffs, ravines, and lower slopes are dominated by beech, magnolias, oaks, and hickories.

The Southern Pine Hills and Dougherty Plain have sandy loam, sandy clay, or sandy soils. This is the "pineywoods" region of Alabama. Most of this region is low in elevation and relatively flat. The fire-adapted longleaf pine community was extensive here before extensive clearing for agriculture, conversion to loblolly plantations, and suppression of fire.

Climate

Alabama's climate can be described as moderate and continental with relatively mild winters and hot, humid summers. Although temperatures vary locally, statewide average summer temperatures range from 72 degrees F to a high of 87 degrees. Average daily temperatures range from 46 degrees F to 55 degrees in winter. Annual rainfall, ranging from 45 to 60 inches per year, is well distributed throughout the year.

Significant Watersheds

Alabama has more than 235,000 miles of waterways spanning three major river basins and several minor Gulf drainages (Figure 8). Most of the state lies within the Mobile Bay Basin, the major tributaries being (from west to east) the Tombigbee, Black Warrior, Alabama, Cahaba, Coosa, and Tallapoosa rivers. The Tennessee River Basin drains the northern portion of the state. The Chattahoochee River forms the eastern boundary with Georgia and is part of the Apalachicola River Basin. Lesser drainages into the Gulf of Mexico include the Escatawpa, Perdido, Blackwater, Conecuh, Yellow, Choctawhatchee/Pea, and Chipola.

Most of the larger streams have been impounded for hydroelectric power, navigation, and recreation. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Alabama Power Company, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintain an extensive network of reservoirs. With only a small impoundment near its headwaters, the Cahaba River is the state's largest free-flowing stream.

Figure 8. Watershed Map of Alabama

Recreation Opportunities

Tourism and forest-based recreation constitute a substantial segment of Alabama's economy, contributing $1.8 billion in 1996. The state has two national preserves, eight national wildlife refuges, four national forests, 26 state parks, and numerous state wildlife management areas that support and serve the growing tourism and recreation industry. Although not all revenues reported for tourism and recreation are the result of forest-based activities, the natural beauty of Alabama's forests, combined with the State's diverse topography, make it a popular vacation destination for an increasing proportion of the American public. The most popular forest-based outdoor recreation activities include hunting, hiking, horseback riding, spring flora and wildlife observation, photography, camping, and enjoyment of nature.

Most forest industries that own land in Alabama recognize the opportunity for outdoor recreation on their lands and make them available for hunting, hiking, and other public recreation use by lease or permit. Recreation use on non-industrial private forestlands is much more limited than on public lands. Fewer landowners are willing to allow the public use of their lands, and an increasing number lease their lands, primarily for hunting, to users who also help protect forest resources.

Cultural Resources

When Europeans first settled Alabama, Native Americans had inhabited the area for as long as 12,000 years. These peoples developed permanent settlements, practiced agriculture, and hunted and fished in virtually every portion of the State. The Mississippian culture (700-1300 AD) featured ceremonial mounds, ornate pottery, and sophisticated agriculture. Archaeological sites are numerous, especially in river valleys and adjacent flood plains.

Although Spanish explorers traveled through Alabama in 1540, the first European settlement was established near the coast in 1702. By the early 1800s, Indian cessions and removal campaigns opened up to white settlement large portions of western (Choctaw) and northern (Chickasaw and Cherokee) Alabama. As the natives were removed, white settlement proceeded rapidly. Today Alabama has numerous historic sites that include Native American sites, antebellum homes and plantations, and Civil War battlegrounds and cemeteries.

Although many of the more important and obvious archaeological and historical sites have been protected and restored, many little known and undiscovered sites, including some that lie within forestlands and along riparian corridors, remain unprotected and unexplored. Responsibility for conservation of historical and archaeological resources rests with the Alabama Historical Commission.

Mineral Resources

According to the Alabama Geological Survey, the most important mineral resources currently produced in the State are coal, oil, and natural gas. Others include crushed stone, masonry and Portland cement, and sand and gravel.

Coal and natural gas reserves are principally found in the Cumberland Plateau, Ridge and Valley, and Coastal Plain, including offshore areas. Although regulations have strengthened during the past two decades, surface mining destroys native forests, often threatens water quality, and adversely affects natural landscapes.

Timber Management Opportunities

The economic importance of Alabama's timber industry and the increasing demand for forest products is a major component in the "working forests" concept. At 4.45 million people, Alabama's population is placing greater demands on our remaining forestlands and the resources they provide. The state's forest industry provides a vital source of income and jobs for many rural areas and smaller cities. As stated in a previous section, timber is the dominant crop harvested in more than half (34) of the state's 67 counties. Harvesting, processing and marketing of wood products accounts for over 66,800 jobs. Forest resources contribute in excess of $5 billion to the state's annual economy, making it Alabama's largest industry.

The most positive change in Alabama's forestland over the last few decades has been in the standing volume of hardwood timber. From 1973 to 1990, total volume increased 33% from 9 billion to 12 billion cubic feet (Table 1).

Table 1. Volume Comparison

Alabama forests are at their highest stocking level ever. The latest survey report shows that there are 23 billion cubic feet of growing stock on Alabama's timberland, of which 11 billion cubic feet are softwoods and 12 billion cubic feet are hardwood. On average, commercial forests in Alabama support 13 cords of timber per acre. Yearly growth on these forests is over one-half of one cord of timber per acre.

Compared to the figures reported in the 1982 survey, the recent survey (1990) showed that the growing stock inventory of softwood is down by 2% over the period from 1982 to 1990. However, hardwood inventory volume is significantly up (by 21%) in the same period. Hardwood growth increased over the period from 1982 to 1990 by 52%. This boost in volume and growth occurred even though there was an increase in the use of hardwoods by pulp and chip mills. According to USDA Forest Service, growth is up dramatically because of increases in vigor and better management of existing stands.

Alabama is cutting more pine volume than is grown on an annual basis. Pine volume removed exceeded volume grown by 10.6% through most of the 1980s. In responding to this trend, new planting and forest management programs have been put in place and are having a positive impact. This "drain" in pine is regional in nature. Indications of change show that certain areas are being more heavily cut than others. This is particularly true through the mid-section of Alabama and includes North Central Alabama, which has a critical problem with softwood overcutting. This was caused by a combination of a loss of commercial forestland and inadequate regeneration. Southeast and West Central Alabama show significant cutting, but indications are that planting programs currently in place will ease this in the short run.

Figure 9 shows a map of Alabama with areas of high and moderate population areas and land use. Losses of forested lands are most conspicuous near the coast, in the southeastern "Wiregrass" region, and on Sand Mountain and in the Tennessee Valley in the north. The Black Belt region appears as an unforested swath extending three fourths of the way into Alabama from Mississippi, but the absence of forest in this "prairie" region is largely natural.

The impacts of forest fragmentation are widespread in Alabama and will affect timber availability in the future. While a moratorium on development is not possible (or necessarily advisable), there may be mechanisms to influence landowners to retain forest acreage to maintain a viable land base.

The following are some mechanisms that may influence landowners to retain forestland (Foreman, 1999):

• push the concept of local landowner associations to coordinate education and training, management across property boundaries, and to achieve policy issue focus;
• embrace the land conservation movement, including the Forest Legacy Program, as a means to reduce the effects of fragmentation with emphasis on forest management as an integral core element;
• begin managing smaller tracts more intensely, i.e. woodlot management.

Figure 9. Vegetation Cover and Land Use of Alabama

Forestlands controlled by federal and state agencies and forest industries are generally well protected by laws, regulations, company policies, and prudent management. Federally owned lands in Alabama include the Bankhead, Conecuh, Talladega, and Conecuh National Forests, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and US Army Corps of Engineers reservoir properties, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, Fort McClellan (recently closed), and several national wildlife refuges. Numerous state parks, state forests, state wildlife management areas, and Forever Wild preserves comprise the bulk of state-owned forestland under protection.

In recent years numerous partnerships have developed between and among federal and state agencies and forest industries that contribute substantially to the effective protection and sound management of the properties they control. These inter-organizational agreements provide protection and management of public and forest industry lands for fire management, wildlife management, threatened and endangered species protection, recreation services, etc.

It is often on non-industrial private lands that protection and planned management of resources is lacking and where the greatest threat of fragmentation of forestlands, parcelization, conversion to non-forest uses, and danger from abuse and destruction of forest resources exists.

Although technical assistance and limited financial assistance are generally available to private landowners from the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) and other government agencies, private forestry consultants, and forest industries, most forest landowners have no established plan or policy for managing their forestlands. Many do not consider a plan or management until they decide to harvest timber. Many others wait until after the timber is harvested to consider options for the future productivity of their lands.

No federal or state laws currently exist to compel landowners to manage their lands. The current level of technical assistance and incentives is considered inadequate to serve the large and growing number of forest landowners in the State.

Land Tenure

Forest Ownership

Non-industrial private landowners control 71% of the state's forest, with 49% (11 million acres) held by owners of less than 500 acres and 22% (4.8 million acres) held by owners of larger tracts. Forest industry--mainly paper companies--own 18% (3.9 million acres), other corporations own 6% (1.3 million acres), and the remaining 5% (1.1 million acres) of the state's woodlands are owned by the state or federal government (Figure 11). This is the typical pattern for forest ownership in the southern United States.

Figure 11. Ownership Categories

Characteristics of Forest Landowners

The typical Alabama non-industrial forest owner controls a relatively small forested tract of around 80 acres. "Small" owners - those with less than 500 acres - hold nearly 50 percent of the total commercial forested acreage in the state, comprising nearly 11 million acres.

A 1990 timber owner survey reported 214,241 timber ownerships in Alabama. This was down 4 percent from a similar report done in 1982. This loss occurred due to urbanization and consolidation of ownerships. North Alabama supports a large number of owners and small average tract sizes, while South Alabama supports a small owner number with larger average acres. Cullman, Jefferson and Marshall Counties have the largest number of owners with typically the smallest average tract sizes in Alabama. Montgomery, Lowndes and Chambers Counties have the least number of owners with the largest average tract sizes.

Forest Ownership Trends

According to the most recently published USDA Forest Inventory statistics for Alabama (Vissage and Miller, 1990), there was an overall 1 percent increase in the area of timberland between the 1982 and 1990 forest inventories, owing largely to reversion of crop and pastureland. However, several regions lost timberland. Losses were most apparent on the Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile areas (McWilliams, 1991).

Trends in forest ownership have changed through the past century. Major trends can be summarized as follows:

• 1850-1920 : Acquisition of lands by railroads
• 1920-40 : Acquisition of marginal private lands by federal government (National Forests)
• 1930-70: Acquisition of private lands by paper and other forest products companies
• 1990-2001: Sale of long-held corporate lands to investors, pension funds, etc.

Within the non-industrial private ownership category, the 1999 Forest Inventory revealed a significant increase (?? --confirm with final data) in miscellaneous private class, which has emerged as the largest class of forestland owners in the state with ___ percent of the total. As such, these non-farming individuals will have a major influence on the future use and condition of the state's forest resources.

For many years it was suspected that privately owned forestlands were being broken up into smaller units by road, utilities, urban expansion, and subdivision of estates, and that the total number of owners was growing. Table 2 reveals the extent of parcelization of privately owned forestland resulting from the increase in numbers of owners from 1990 to 1999.

Table 2: Estimated Number of Private Ownership Units and Acres of Forestland Owned in Alabama, 1990 and 1999 (Vissage, 2000)

* Dependent on data from the 1999 survey, to be available by late July 2001

Table 2 not only confirms the presumed growth in numbers of owners and parcelization of forestland but also highlights the rapid pace at which it has occurred. Despite the reduction of more than __ million acres of forestland in private ownership, the number of ownership units increased more than ___ percent during the 9-year period. The 1999 survey also showed there were ____ owners of non-industrial private forestland of which ____ (___ percent) owned 1 to 9 acres. ___ (__) percent of the State's forestland (____ million acres) was contained in parcels less than 10 acres. By contrast, there were only ____ parcels ____ acres and larger, representing ____ acres.

The recent reduction in use of rural lands for traditional agricultural production indicates the conversion to other uses. During the period 1990 through 1999, the number of farm units in Alabama decreased from ____ to ____ units. Land classified as farmland was reduced by ____ acres, from ___ to ___ million acres.

Much of the land involved in the transition from farmland to other categories of ownership resulted in parcelization (the subdivision of land tracts into smaller units and the accompanying increase in numbers of land owners) of estates by heirs and the subdivision of larger tracts for family farms, second home sites, and outdoor recreation retreats. In 1999, ___ percent of owners in Alabama 55 years of age and older controlled ____ million acres of forestland in 199__. During the next 20 years, the bulk of these lands will pass into the hands of heirs or be sold to other individuals, thereby exacerbating the tendency towards parcelization and the possible development of these lands for other purposes.

Forest Resource Trends and Threats

Parcelization

As mentioned above, parcelization may be caused by a number of factors. These include the distribution of parcels to heirs following the deaths of owners, pressure by developers to sell for development or pressure to sell to avoid higher property taxes. Many of these smaller tracts that remain forestland will become part-time farms, second home sites, and outdoor recreation retreats in the future.

Historically, the smaller the tract, the more likely timber production has been low on the landowner's list of management objectives. The total area available for timber production will diminish, and in the absence of disturbance, certain wildlife habitats will deteriorate. Firewood, wildlife and wildflower observation, autumn coloration, and maintenance of pristine condition will likely be popular management objectives of new owners.

This pattern of ownership, combined with activities associated with increased numbers of people in close proximity to forestlands, often creates problems sometimes referred to as "rural/urban interface" problems. The rural/urban interface is a generalized area, often on the fringe of an urban area, where people establish residence.

Such areas are characterized by the intermingling of home sites with forest and agricultural lands and the activities associated with each land use. Special problems encountered in the rural/urban interface include increased risk of forest and structural fires, problems with smoke generated by prescribed fires, and stresses imposed on forests and the environment caused by increased numbers of people in close proximity to forestlands.

In the absence of new national or state zoning laws or attractive incentives, it is likely that the headlong parcelization of forestland tracts will continue due to increasing population, pressures to subdivide tracts, and owners' desire to live in the rural/urban interface.

Population Growth

Population and population growth are two of the more important factors that determine the health of forestlands and their ability to provide traditional goods and services. In 2000, Alabama's population was 4.47 million people; an increase of 10.1 percent since 1990 (US Bureau of the Census, 2001). It is estimated that by the year 2025 Alabamians will number 5.22 million, a 17 percent increase from 2000. Figures 12 and 13 represent current population density and areas of population growth, respectively.

Figure 12. Population Density, 2000

Figure 13. Population Change, 1990-2000

The most rapid population growth will occur near major urban areas, along major transportation corridors, and in the vicinity of large industrial plants such as the Mercedes-Benz automobile plant at Vance, located about 15 miles north of Tuscaloosa. Growth is expected to be heaviest around Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, and Dothan.

Development of utilities and services follows increases in population growth, and the presence of this infrastructure often stimulates further growth. Urban sprawl profoundly affects land use, irreversibly breaking up and replacing forests, agricultural lands, and wild lands with roads, utility corridors, reservoirs, houses, schools, and commercial development. Such fragmentation of forestlands can severely reduce biological diversity and sustainable production of wildlife by creating forest areas of insufficient size to support diverse ecological communities or resulting in areas that lack one or more essential ecosystem elements. Fragmentation may also eliminate or degrade corridors that connect ecologically important forested areas and increase wildlife/human conflicts.

Changing Forests

In 2010, the total area of forestland in the State is likely to be about the same or slightly less. In the short run, forestland losses to fragmentation and parcelization may be partially offset by reversion of agricultural lands to forestland and by reforestation of marginal and sub-marginal agricultural lands.

Considerably less non-industrial private forestland is expected to be available for production of industrial wood products in future years. Parcelization typically breaks up forestland into uneconomical timber management units. More importantly, owners of small tracts are often reluctant to sell the timber in favor of satisfying their objectives for wildlife, outdoor recreation, and visual integrity. Forestland in the vicinity of major urban centers and larger towns is more likely to be affected by such de facto removal from wood production. The effects of this phenomenon are likely to be felt keenly by the forest industry in the near future.

An increase in demand for forest products, especially hardwood lumber and paper and composite products, is expected during the next decade, assuming a continued healthy global economy. Such need should, in turn, promote demand for timber and higher stumpage prices. It could also motivate landowners to improve timber management and productivity of their lands, especially those that control larger parcels of forestland.

Public Concern

In recent years, the public has become much more focussed with respect to environmental concerns and more aware and outspoken about local issues. Urban dwellers seek more outdoor recreation experiences and exert increasing user pressure on private as well as public lands. As a result, sentiment and support for environmental protection on all lands, and public lands in particular, by environmental and conservation organizations, as well as individual citizens, are growing and are expected to increase.

Environmental and conservation organizations are expected to seek more legislation and regulations that affect the management of public lands. Changes would be aimed at protecting biological diversity, water quality, cultural resources, wildlife habitats, and scenic values and increasing outdoor recreational opportunities. Timber production on public lands is likely to be de-emphasized.

New laws and regulations affecting privately owned lands will also be sought but are likely to be adopted at a much slower rate than on public lands. Emphasis for private lands protection will be aimed primarily at protecting water quality and regulating forest practices, especially logging activities.

Threats to Forestlands

In summary, the principal threats to private forestlands include:

Population growth

Growth of population combined with a healthy economy, higher disposable personal income, and increased leisure time exert a tremendous pressure on private forests to provide timber products, outdoor recreation spaces, and other forest amenities.

Forest Fragmentation

New roads and utility rights of way that serve a growing population penetrate forestland areas. In addition, land clearing, urban expansion, reservoir construction, and other developments that change wild lands to non-forest uses fragment and reduce forestland, thereby threatening biological diversity, wildlife habitats, forest recreation opportunities, and the appearance of natural landscapes.

Parcelization of Forestland

Parcelization subdivides existing forestland into smaller tracts without immediate non-forest development. Parcelization, in effect, removes land from the timber production base since owners of small tracts are much less likely to manage for timber production; moreover, timber production is far less efficient on small parcels. Forest amenities threatened by parcelization include threatened and endangered species, water quality, scenic beauty, and wildlife habitats. Parcelization often aggravates problems associated with the rural/urban interface.

Existing Programs to Conserve Forestlands

State Programs

State programs exist to protect and conserve environmentally important forestlands. Under the Forever Wild Act of 1992 the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) State Lands Division is authorized to acquire conservation easements or fee title to lands in need of public protection. The Forever Wild program has acquired and currently manages eight Forever Wild preserves totaling almost 10,000 acres (outdated information--will get updated figure from Greg Lein).

The Alabama Forestry Commission manages approximately 14,487 acres of state forests. In addition, it administers the TREASURE Forest Program which provides management assistance to landowners. This voluntary program promotes sound and sustainable, multiple-use forest management while at the same time protecting and enhancing the environment.  The TREASURE Forest Program promotes this management ethic through two avenues:  education and recognition.  Education is provided through information and on-the-ground technical assistance from the member agencies and groups represented on the Alabama Forestry Planning Committee.

The Forest Legacy Program will complement existing state programs by providing funding necessary to acquire otherwise unobtainable easements and important tracts that contain environmentally important forest resources.

Non-government Programs

Non-profit Land Trusts and Conservancies

At least six in-state and four regional land trusts and conservancy organizations are active in protecting environmentally important lands in Alabama:

Alabama-based Land Trusts

Alabama Forest Resources Center (Mobile, AL)
Black Warrior-Cahaba Rivers Land Trust (Birmingham, AL)
Coastal Land Trust (Mobile, AL)
Land Trust of East Alabama (Auburn, AL)
Land Trust of Huntsville & North Alabama (Huntsville, AL)
The Nature Conservancy, Alabama Field Office (Birmingham, AL)

Regional Land Trusts

Lookout Mountain Land Trust (Lookout Mountain, TN)  
South Cumberland Regional Land Trust ( Monteagle, TN)  
Southeastern Caves Conservancy (Signal Mountain, TN) 
Ducks Unlimited Conservation Easement Program (Ridgeland, MS)

Forest Industry Programs

Forest industries, mainly pulp and paper companies, control significant amounts of forestland in Alabama, many of which contain unique resources and opportunities for public use and benefit. Resource protection programs consist of two types, those that industries initiate voluntarily by company policy and those that involve cooperative agreements with government agencies and conservation organizations.

Forest industries in Alabama have long been sensitive to non-timber resources and opportunities on their properties and have taken steps to protect and conserve them for the public benefit. These include the administrative segregation and protection of many scenic, geologic, and historic features and areas that contain unique biological communities, water falls, threatened or endangered species, and other special features. Companies have also constructed hiking trails and permitted public use of their lands, especially for hunting and wildlife observation.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) program is a standard of environmental principles, objectives and performance measures that integrates the perpetual growing and harvesting of trees with the protection of wildlife, plants, soil and water quality and a wide range of other conservation goals. An independent Expert Review Panel, comprised of representatives from the environmental, professional, conservation, academic and public sectors, reviews the program. Through the SFI program, members of the American Forest & Paper Association are attempting to change the way that private forests are managed in the U.S.

Many forest industries with extensive land holdings in the State have also entered into agreements with the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fish (ADWFF) for public hunting on their lands, which also helps assure protection of resources, provides public access, and facilitates scientific investigation of rare or threatened plants and animals. In return ADWFF provides patrol services and oversight of hunting activities and assistance in wildlife and habitat management.

State Laws, Regulations, and Tax Incentives

State programs exist to provide tax relief for management of forestlands. (Include additional discussion of Alabama's Conservation Easement Law)

The Forest Legacy Program, in combination with the constitutionally-provided property tax relief described above, can provide additional economic benefits to landowners to help forestall the conversion of forests to urban sprawl and other non-forest uses.

Public Participation and Issues

Public Participation in the FLP

Relatively little was known about the Forest Legacy Program until the late 1990s when growing public sentiment to protect special resources and environmentally important forest lands prompted the Alabama Forest Resources Center to request Alabama's entrance into the Program. In 2000 the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC), in consultation with the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee (SFSCC), entered a contract with the Alabama Forest Resources Center (AFRC) for development of this FLP Assessment of Need (AON) document. To initiate the public participation process, AFRC identified __ constituencies whose interest in and knowledge about unique and special forest resources and uses were considered valuable in identifying environmentally important forest areas in the State. These constituents and natural resource professionals were representative of federal and state agencies, municipal governments, colleges and universities, environmental and conservation organizations, and forest industries, as well as individuals active in natural resource conservation and environmental protection. In addition to general information about the FLP and Alabama's proposed participation in the Program, a form for nomination of Forest Legacy Areas (FLAs) was sent to each person identified.

Later, a series of six public meetings (see Appendix C) were conducted to brief the public concerning the FLP and AON, receive comments from landowners and organizations, and accept additional nominations for FLAs. Announcements about public meetings were issued to __ conservation leaders in the State, daily and weekly newspapers, radio and television stations, and the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee (see Appendix C).

In addition, the Forest Legacy Program and the State's involvement in the Program was introduced and discussed in several meetings of the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC). The Commission enthusiastically endorsed FLP and the AFC's role as state lead agency.

Public Issues

Based on oral and written responses from all constituencies, the major public issues concerning the conservation of resources and values on privately owned forestlands in Alabama include:

• Protection of watersheds, water quality, and water supplies.
• Maintenance of biological diversity, including rare plants and wildlife and their habitats.
• Scenic values.
• Protection of archaeological, historical, and other cultural resources.
• Availability of lands for outdoor recreation.
• _____________

Alabama's Forest Legacy Program

Introduction

Implementation of the Forest Legacy Program will play an important role in the protection of environmentally important forest resources in Alabama. The Program will supplement existing programs administered by state and local agencies, land trusts and conservancies, forest industries, and conservation organizations whose efforts are focused on conserving forest resources on private lands. The FLP process can also provide improved coordination of effort by which all interested organizations and individuals can participate as partners to achieve protection of significant forest resources.

The FLP offers landowners an opportunity to voluntarily protect important resources by donating or selling conservation easements that identify key resource values and establish management goals and land use restrictions. In this way the Program can help maintain the forestland base, protect special forest resources, and provide opportunities for traditional forest uses for future generations because it leaves the land in private ownership. Although landowners that participate in FLP may choose to donate or sell fee title to their lands, conservation easements are the preferred method of protecting important forestlands. FLP acquisitions will be from willing landowners only, and based on federal appraisal standards.

In addition to explaining the general operation of Alabama's FLP, this chapter describes how conservation easements can be used to participate in the FLP; how easements will relate to the landowner's management activities; how easement monitoring will be conducted; and how the Program will be funded.

Publicity

Opportunities were provided for the public to learn about and comment on FLP when the FLA nomination forms were sent to key constituencies, when the state-wide FLP news release was published, during the six public meetings that were conducted, and at several meetings of the Alabama Forestry Commission and the Alabama Forestry Planning Committee.

As the lead FLP agency in Alabama, the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) will distribute, through the AFRC, copies of the approved AON document to key organizations and individuals in the State. In addition, AFC will initiate timely outreach efforts to generate appropriate FLP publicity among agencies such as the Alabama Agricultural Extension System and other organizations such as the Alabama Environmental Council, Alabama Wildlife Federation, and The Nature Conservancy that have established outreach networks in the State. Newsletters, press releases, public meetings, articles, and field staff will also be utilized to provide continuing publicity about FLP. 

Landowner Participation: Application, Selection, and Development of Easements

Establishment of conservation easements must begin with interested landowners. Eligible landowners that may be interested in the FLP may submit applications to the State Forester through the Forest Legacy Coordinator (AFRC) at any time. Application will be made on the application finalized by the FLP Steering Committee. A sample Landowner FLP Participation Application form is contained in Appendix A.

Landowners should decide whether they prefer to donate an easement to the Program, apply to have the easement purchased through the Program, or a combination (bargain sale). Donated easements may be held either by government or non-government entities where the donee agrees to accept the donation and the donor agrees to manage the lands for Forest Legacy purposes. Organizations eligible by law to hold easements donated to the Program include USDA Forest Service, State or local agencies, and non-profit trusts and conservancies. The State or a unit of local government must hold easements or lands purchased with federal funds under the Forest Legacy Program.

The State Forester, in consultation with AFRC, whose Board of Directors has been appointed a subcommittee of the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee (SFSCC), will appoint a FLP subcommittee that will review FLP applications at least annually and make recommendations regarding the value of tracts to Alabama's FLP. The selection process will produce a list of landowner applications that will be prioritized for inclusion and potential funding. The prioritized list will, in turn, be considered and approved by the SFSCC. Recommended tracts will be appraised using federal appraisal standards, and landowners will be informed of their fair market value.

The SFSCC approved list will then be submitted to the USDA Forest Service's Regional Office in Atlanta. The Forest Service will make the final determination as to which conservation easements or lands will be acquired with federal funds, or, in the case of donations, will be approved for inclusion in the Program under cost-share agreements. All acquisitions will be made subject to availability of federal funds.

Following completion of the prioritization and approval process, easements will be purchased or conveyed as charitable donations. The Alabama Department of Conservation's State Lands Division shall be the state agency that will hold purchased easements or fee lands acquired under the FLP in Alabama.

Specific terms of easements will be negotiated between individual landowners and easement holders. Terms will be site specific and will provide for the permanent protection of forest resources targeted by the landowner and the donee for protection. All easement acquisitions must follow established federal appraisal standards and state procedures and standards for negotiation, appraisal, title review, survey, stewardship, and other requirements.

Parcel Eligibility Criteria

The parcel eligibility criteria below reflect both USDA Forest Service Program Implementation Guidelines and the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee's objectives for FLP. To be eligible for inclusion in Alabama's FLP, private forestland tracts must:

• Be threatened by conversion to non-forest uses
• Be owned by landowners that are willing and interested in donating or selling conservation easements, reserved interest deeds, or fee title through the FLP.
• Possess at least one environmental value of special concern to the public and the State, such as important fish and wildlife habitat; rare animals, plants or plant communities; biological diversity; riparian habitats; scenic beauty; forest-based recreation opportunities; forest products production capability; or lands which directly affect water quality and other watershed values.
• Provide for continuity of one or more traditional forest uses.
• Possess environmental values that can be protected and managed effectively through conservation easements or fee simple acquisition at reasonable cost.

When judging whether a tract has environmental values that can be protected and managed efficiently, AFC, the SFSCC, and the FLP Committee should consider:

• The nature of environmental values proposed for protection and whether they can be monitored effectively and economically.
• Whether the tract is likely to become isolated from other areas maintained for important forest resources by development on adjacent tracts.
• Whether the landowner's management objectives are compatible with the protection of resources they propose.
• Whether a land trust, conservancy, public agency, or other appropriate organization has expressed an interest in working with AFC and the landowner to establish and monitor the easement.
• Whether other sources of funding for tract acquisition, easement closing, monitoring, and other associated costs are available.

Program Objectives

Alabama's FLP objectives will be used to determine which eligible tracts will receive priority for participation in the Program. Objectives are aimed at protecting forest resource values that constituencies and the public consider of greatest concern. It should be emphasized that although the Program includes timber production potential when significant forestland conversion threats exist, the primary focus of the Program is on protecting non-timber resources and values considered to be most threatened. The following are the objectives of FLP in Alabama:

• Prevent conversions of forestlands to other uses.
• Preserve and protect fish and wildlife habitats, rare plants, and biological diversity.
• Preserve and protect riparian habitats.
• Preserve and protect water quality, fisheries, and water supplies.
• Preserve and protect natural beauty.
• Preserve and protect forest-based recreation opportunities.
• Preserve forestlands for current and future wood production.

The following actions will be pursued in implementing the foregoing FLP objectives:

To prevent future conversions of tracts and environmentally important forest resources, priority will be given to:

• Tracts held by owners who will preclude subdivision and non-forest development on tracts included in the Program.

To preserve and protect fish and wildlife habitats, rare plants, and biological diversity, priority will be given to:

• Tracts that include rare natural communities, rare and endemic animals and plants, and habitat for fish and wildlife species of special concern, especially species considered threatened, endangered, or sensitive.
• Tracts held by owners who will identify and protect areas that contain species or communities of special concern and manage for key habitats.

To preserve and protect riparian habitats, priority will be given to:

• Tracts which contain riparian habitats.
• Tracts owned by landowners that will identify and protect under easement adjacent sensitive riparian habitats.

Alabama Designated Forest Legacy Areas with Descriptions

As identified previously in the federal code, the Forest Legacy Program involves the identification of forest lands within Alabama threatened by conversion to non-forest uses.

The Forest Legacy Subcommittee, in conjunction with the State Forester, recommends the creation of six Forest Legacy Areas. They are as follows: 1) North, 2) North Central, 3) West Central, 4) Upper Southwest, 5) Lower Southwest, and 6) Southeast. These areas are analogous to the U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory Areas (Figure 13).

Figure 13. Forest Legacy Areas

These areas will encompass the entire state but will have different goals based on the focussed input process with recommendations and Forest Legacy Steering Committee input. The main goal for all areas will be to lessen conversion to non-forest use. Figure 13 shows these six areas in Alabama. The following is a summary of the primary goals for each designated Forest Legacy Area:

North

• Lessen conversion to non-forest use
• To be determined by committee
• To be determined by committee
• To be determined by committee

North Central

• Lessen conversion to non-forest use
• To be determined by committee
• To be determined by committee
• To be determined by committee

West Central

• Lessen conversion to non-forest use
• To be determined by committee
• To be determined by committee
• To be determined by committee

Upper Southwest

• Lessen conversion to non-forest use
• To be determined by committee
• To be determined by committee
• To be determined by committee

Lower Southwest

• Lessen conversion to non-forest use
• To be determined by committee
• To be determined by committee
• To be determined by committee

Southeast

• Lessen conversion to non-forest use
• To be determined by committee
• To be determined by committee
• To be determined by committee

Note to reviewers: Possible options for the "to be determined" choices above include:

• water quality protection
• habitat protection
• conserve forest lands for wood product opportunities
• preserve forest-based recreation opportunities
• protect riparian corridors
• protect natural beauty
• protect scenic vistas
• other: ___________________
• other: ___________________

Detailed descriptions of each Forest Legacy Area are in preparation and will be available before the July 17 Steering Committee meeting.

The following is a preliminary description of one of the six FLAs and is included here as an example. It is not complete.

Upper Southwest Forest Legacy Area

This area in southwestern Alabama but north of the coastal counties is the "Southwest-North" region of the USDA Forest Inventory and Analysis. It encompasses the counties of Sumter, Choctaw, Marengo, Wilcox, Clarke, Monroe, and Conecuh.

Natural regions include the Black Belt, Red Hills, and Southern Pine Hills. Longleaf pine communities and deciduous Red Hills ravine and bluff forests are among the more threatened natural forest types.

Population density and growth in this region is not as high as in other FLAs.

Major Rivers:   Tombigbee, Alabama, Conecuh.
Forest Area:     3.6 million acres (83% of total area)
Forest Losses:  27,000 acres
Forest Gains:    163,000 acres
Net Change:     + 136,000 acres

APPENDIX A: Alabama Forest Legacy Landowner Application Package

 Alabama Forest Legacy Application

Submit by January 31, 2002 for 2002 priority consideration.

The Alabama Forest Legacy Program purchases development rights or fee simple title to environmentally significant forests in targeted areas of Alabama so these threatened forests may remain intact and provide traditional forest benefits.

07-05

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear Forest Legacy Supporter,

Since the Alabama Forest Legacy Program was announced, calls from Alabama landowners have been steady as they seek ways to preserve their forests and protect them from development. For many the Forest Legacy option, which purchases or accepts donated development rights, is just what they have been looking for. I am glad you too have expressed interest in this important forest conservation effort and hope this information and application packet will provide you the option you seek.

At this time the Forest Legacy program is accepting applications for funding in 2002. There is a January 31st priority deadline, but we accept applications throughout the year. Eligible lands must be at least 90% forest.

Interest in the program far exceeds funding levels and it is necessary to prioritize the proposals we receive. The enclosed information provides a self-scoring system to give you a quick look at how your property may score.

We hope this information packet meets your needs and that you will continue to support the Alabama Forest legacy program. If you need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me or view the Alabama Forest Legacy Web Page at www.____________. http://www.state.in.us/dnr/forestry/legacy/legacy2.htm

Sincerely,

______________

Forest Legacy Coordinator,
Alabama Forest Resources Center

9 Dauphin St

Mobile, AL 36602

Questions: 251-433-2372

e-mail: AFRC@prodigy.net

APPENDIX B: Authorization Documents

Governor's letter to Forest Service, etc. to be included here.

APPENDIX C: Public Involvement Process

Descriptions of public contact, meetings, feedback, etc. to be included here.

APPENDIX D: Literature Cited

Association for Biodiversity Information. 2001. Natureserve: An Online Encyclopedia Of Life [web application]. Version 1.4 . Arlington, Virginia, USA. Available: http://www.natureserve.org/. (Accessed: June 15, 2001).

Burdette, Don. 1995. The Southern Forests: 1800-1850. Alabama TREASURED Forests 3(1):22-23.

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