forest industry companies, such as Gulf States Pa- 
per. 
TREASURE has also led to an increased coordi- 
nation of efforts among all the agencies that work 
with forest landowners. This has improved quality 
assistance and brought about increased aware- 
ness among all resource managers of the multiple 
benefits of the forest, especially in regard to wildlife 
management. Through TREASURE Forest, Al- 
abama Forestry Commission foresters and many 
forestry consultants have become aware of the in- 
terrelationships between timber management and 
wildlife habitat management. This awareness has 
resulted in higher levels of habitat management and 
resulting increases in both game and nongame 
populations. 
Other AFPC Accomplishments 
TREASURE Forest has had a halo effect on oth- 
er AFPC activities. The increased coordination of 
efforts from TREASURE has enhanced cooperation 
in other projects, as evidenced by several of Alaba- 
ma's success stories. 
Hurricane Frederic, in 1979, created tremen- 
dous damage to the forest resources of southwest- 
ern Alabama. The AFPC joined in with the Gover- 
nor's Forest Disaster Recovery Council to improve 
and coordinate salvage operations and restore the 
forests of the area. 
In other disaster work, the AFPC increased 
landowner awareness during the southern pine 
beetle epidemics of 1973 and 1986. Meetings that 
were held in counties with severe infestations result- 
ed in increased salvage of damaged wood, saving 
Alabama landowners millions of dollars. 
Reforestation has been a major thrust of the 
AFPC, through its productivity subcommittee. This 
group serves as a clearinghouse for reforestation 
ideas. Working through county committees, the pro- 
ductivity subcommittee has reported annual in- 
creases in the number of acres planted to pine each 
of the last 5 years. 
County Forestry Planning Committees 
Since 1981, county-level representatives of the 
AFPC agencies have met with landowners, consult- 
ing foresters, and forest industry representatives to 
form County Forestry Planning Committees. The 
groups implement AFPC programs, such as TREA- 
SURE Forest, and develop creative new ways of 
helping landowners with forest resource manage- 
ment. 
The effectiveness of these county committees 
was demonstrated in February 1983. At that time, 
the AFPC had a 9-million-seedling surplus in its 
nursery. On February 2, word went out to all county 
committees that the surplus was available at no cost 
to farmers who had marginal cropland that they 
would like to take out of row crops. The Soil Conser- 
vation Service in each county identified eligible 
lands and signed up landowners. The county 
forestry planning committees publicized the work 
and helped landowners find tools and vendors. 
Within three weeks, more than 8.2 million seedlings 
were picked up by farmers. This was enough to 
plant 11,700 acres. Very few organizations can 
match that record of efficiency. 
An effective county forestry committee program 
requires visible and sincere support from the heads 
of each organization involved. One way Alabama 
makes this support visible is by presenting annual 
awards to the outstanding county forestry commit- 
tees. The county committees are invited to nomi- 
nate themselves. The AFPC selects three district 
winners (north, southeast, southwest Alabama), 
based on committee accomplishments, and from 
this group, a Statewide outstanding committee. 
The regional and Statewide winners are publicly 
recognized at a banquet held during the annual 
TREASURE Forest agency-landowner conference. 
All members of the winning county committees re- 
ceives a plaque from the head of their departments. 
This public applause encourages other county 
committees to work better together. In fact, several 
counties formed committees based on the encour- 
agement they saw at the recognition banquet. 
Recommended Policies for the South 
The purpose of this paper is to show an alterna- 
tive to forest regulations. The TREASURE Forest 
Program uses incentives to improve the quality of 
forest management practices. Here are three basic 
initiatives that can be put forth as alternatives to 
legislating for change: 
1. Every State should establish a forestry plan- 
ning committee. 
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