Louisiana has been going green since 1904. Even before the U.S. Forest Service was formed, Louisiana focused on producing, promoting, and protecting these vast timberlands.
Photo by Thomas Johnson. Check out his awesome YouTube channel.
Forests cover 14 million acres, about 50% of Louisiana’s land area, making it the state’s greatest single land use. Louisiana landowners reforest the land each year with over 128 MILLION saplings, a minimum of 29 trees for each Louisiana citizen. In addition to the reforestation of the land, wildfire protection, forest health, and regeneration of specified species are improved, each year.
Trees Sequester CO2: On average, one acre of new forest can sequester about 2.5 tons of carbon, annually. Young trees absorb CO2 at a rate of 13 pounds/tree each year. Trees reach their most productive stage of carbon storage around 10 years and are estimated to absorb 48 pounds/tree per year. Most people do not realize that the younger trees (or saplings) store carbon at a much faster rate than that of older trees because they are producing food (nuts, fruit, etc.) at a much higher rate.
Why is Louisiana Forestry and Timber Harvesting Considerably more impressive than that of other states? you guessed it, our HUMIDITY (not only keeps us looking young and fresh, but it also aids in the rapid growth of this amazing renewable resource)!
Louisiana Loggers and our green machines: Logging Equipment not only has become safer and extremely computerized and mechanized but also, green. With the addition of the DEF systems for each engine, this Diesel exhaust fluid exchanges the grimy air pollution with pure nitrogen and water vapor! These DEF systems are not only on the large harvesting equipment but on our log trucks and our passenger, diesel vehicles, as well.
WHY HARVEST?
Harvesting Timber in Louisiana allows the production of everyday things such as masks, filters, toilet tissue (which we used a LOT of in 2020) disinfecting wipes, cleaning products, cellulose-based pill fillers, wood pallets to move medical supplies and goods, lumber/plywood for structures and fuel for keeping our homes warm, etc. In fact, wood products make up 47% of all raw materials used in manufacturing, in the US.
It is renewable: Wood is 100% recyclable, biodegradable, and durable – Sometimes lasting for centuries. When it is no longer needed, it can be returned to the earth and renewed for future generations. Resources such as iron ore, coal, and limestone, once removed, are gone forever.
Proper Forest Management Prevents Fires: Not only is reforestation important but the importance of thinning the undergrowth of forests to prevents massive – wildfires and disease is a must to sustain healthy forestlands!
Louisiana Loggers, foresters, and timber management teams have been doing it RIGHT for over 100 years! Sure, it has not always been perfect, but we are constantly refining the process to become more environmentally friendly. Trees are remarkable and renewable resource that provides not only great products and jobs for our citizens, but clean air for now and for the future!
Plant a tree, buy paper products (instead of filling a landfill with plastic), and learn more about how essential Louisiana Loggers and proper forest management is to our state, climate, and future!
GEAUX GREEN LOUISIANA!
Toni McAllister, Executive Director, Louisiana Loggers Association
http://www.louisianaloggers.com