are available from Federal sources such as the Forestry In- 
centives Program and Agricultural Conservation Program. 
Complementing Virginia’s reforestation act is its longstanding 
Seed Tree Law, aimed at ensuring prompt regeneration of 
harvested timberland. This law applies to any land where 
loblolly, shortleaf, pond, or white pine, and tulip poplar 
constitute 10 percent or more of the live trees 6 inches or 
more in diameter at stump height. 
The law requires that a minimum number of seed trees per 
acre be kept uncut for 3 years following harvest. An amend- 
ment in the early 1950’s permits landowners to clearcut 
without leaving seed trees, provided they secure the State 
Forester’s approval of a tree-planting plan to be carried out 
following timber cutting. Site preparation is required to en- 
sure that the young pine or poplar trees will be free to 
grow without competition from undesirable vegetation. 
Another important part of Virginia’s reforestation program 
is the public or area forester. Virginia assigns at least one 
area forester to each pineland county. The area forester en- 
forces the Seed Tree Law and informs landowners of avail- 
able forestry technology and financial assistance. The area 
forester often gives information on alternative timber man- 
agement prescriptions and on the availability of private for- 
estry consultants and vendors, and can help landowners ob- 
tain cost sharing. 
About three-quarters of the pine stands harvested in Vir- 
ginia are regenerated to pine—substantially above the rate 
in other States. Southwide, only a little over half of the pine 
and mixed pine—hardwood stands harvested in recent years 
have been regenerated to pine. 
Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina also have 
State cost-share forestry incentive programs. Texas and 
Florida are somewhat different. The Texas Forestry Asso- 
ciation has formed the Texas Reforestation Foundation to 
provide financial assistance to landowners in return for a 
commitment to reforest and manage their land for at least 
10 years. The program, which runs in cooperation with the 
Texas Forest Service, is funded by industry contributions. 
The Florida Forestry Association and the Florida Division 
of Forestry also administer a fund derived from donations 
by timber companies to supply landowners with seedlings. 
The contributions and donations are deductible as business 
expenses from Federal income taxes. 
Nn 
> 
In 1985 Southwide, over 138,000 acres of other private 
lands were planted with non-Federal cost-share assistance, 
compared with 217,000 acres planted with Federal assis- 
tance (app. table 2.15). 
Reforestation Trends 
The reforestation programs conducted in the South over the 
past half century have produced a sizable area of planta- 
tions of southern pines, some of which have already been 
harvested. In 1985, tree plantations covered 20.9 million 
acres—or 24 percent of the total area of pine and pine— 
hardwood types in the South (app. tables 3.1 and 3.2). On 
forest industry lands, plantations totaled 13.2 million acres, 
or 47 percent of the 28 million acres of pine and pine— 
hardwood stands in industry ownerships. Plantations on 
other private and public ownerships amounted to 7.7 mil- 
lion acres, or 13 percent of the 60.8 million acres of pine 
and mixed pine—hardwood forests in these holdings. 
The reforestation programs in the South 
over the past half century have produced a 
sizable area of pine plantations, some of 
which have already been harvested. In 1985, 
existing plantations covered 20.9 million 
acres—11 percent of the total area of 
timberland. Some pine plantations, and 
particularly those on other private 
ownerships, naturally regenerate to mixed 
pine—hardwoods or hardwoods after harvest. 
