ALL FOREST LAND PROTECTED 
OVER 2/3 PROTECTED 
jis TO 2/3 PROTECTED 
|__| None TO !/3 PROTECTED 
| NO FOREST LAND PROTECTED 
al NONFOREST LAND 
: SCALE 
O10 29 32 40 50 EO Miles 
[i 
Figure 33.—Florida counties with organized fire protection as of July 1, 1950. 
increasing backlog of young timber has resulted in 
the upward trend in growth, as every year more and 
more young trees grow into merchantable sizes, add- 
ing their volume to the growth. Also reflecting better 
fire protection is the reduction in mortality. 
Improved fire protection, along with its beneficial 
effects, has also created some problems. Complete 
exclusion of fire on some areas has contributed to 
the 2.3-million-acre decrease in pine types by per- 
mitting dense understories of hardwoods to become 
The Timber Supply Situation in Florida 
established in pine stands, thus preventing pine re- 
generation. Also, in some areas, the extension of tit? 
thickets from swamps and ponds to the flatwoods 
land has impeded the establishment of slash pine. 
Even where the accumulation of vegetative growth 
or “rough” did not seriously interfere with regenera- 
tion, a serious fire hazard was frequently created so 
that when fire did occur, it was especially destruc- 
tive. In 1943, the Mount Carrie Fire on the Osceola 
National Forest on land which had been protected 
37 
