Forestry 



1. Market development in .likely to have a significant 

 impact on forestry; including production, development 

 and preservation of forest resources. Information 

 provided to the Commission indicates that marketing 

 is an important element that needs to be strengthened 

 in all three industries. 



2. Approximately 70% (15 million acres) of the total 

 forest area in North Carolina is owned by 

 non-industrial private landowners. Only 50% (7.5 

 million acres) of this acreage, owned by private 

 landowners, is currently being managed to insure 

 reforestation after harvesting has occurred. The 

 remaining 50% is not being managed. In addition, 

 many non-industrial private landowners do not make 

 investments in forest management because they are 

 unav;are of the long term benefits of sound forest 

 management practices or are unwilling to make such 

 long term investments. 



3. Forest fires, natural disasters, insects, and 

 diseases all pose threats to our State's forest 

 resources and the preservation of those resources. 



4. Prescribed burnino and increased arson awareness are 

 two ways the state can reduce the threat of forest 

 fires . 



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