Alabama Stewardship Plan | TREASURE Forest
 Best Management Practices for Forestry (BMPs) | Cost-Share Programs
FIA Survey | Services & Fees | Wildlife Management Assistance
Forest Management Information Sheets | Forest Legacy Program
Forestry Vendors List | Timber Buyers List | Seedling Vendors List

Just like any other crop that is grown, the trees in a forest must be managed to meet their fullest potential. The most important forest management program of the Alabama Forestry Commission is TREASURE Forest which operated under the National Stewardship Program and within the National Association of State Foresters'
Principles and Guides for a Well-Managed Forest.. The word TREASURE is an acronym for Timber, Recreation, Environment, Aesthetics, for a Sustained, Useable, REsource. TREASURE Forest promotes multiple-use forest management through landowner education and technical assistance. 

To be a TREASURE Forest, the property must have been nominated and inspected to ensure that it meets minimum standards. If you would like a resource professional to visit your property or are interested in having your forest certified under the TREASURE Forest Program download the TREASURE Forest Application.  If you would like to  nominate an Alabama Forest landowner for the TREASURE Forest Program download the Nomination Form.

Certified landowners receive a TREASURE Forest sign to display on their property. After five years the property must be recertified. There are over 1,800 landowners who have achieved this recognition in Alabama. Together they are managing more than 1.7 million acres. The TREASURE Forest Program is sponsored by the Alabama Forestry Planning Committee (AFPC) , a group of federal, state and private organizations that have a commitment to helping improve the state's forests. The AFPC makes recommendations on how to most effectively deliver forestry programs like TREASURE Forest to the private landowner. This cooperation among private and government organizations extends to the county level as well. County forestry planning committees meet regularly to discuss issues and coordinate forestry-related activities on a local level.

An important service that the Alabama Forestry Commission provides to landowners is a multiple-use forest management plan. This is a document prepared by a forester or a forest technician that contains written recommendations for a tract of land. It is made up of a description of the property and its resources, maps, and a list of scheduled multiple-use activities to help landowners best manage their forest.

In addition to written plans Forestry Commission employees frequently provide advice on items like proper tree selection for planting projects, how to prepare a site for planting, the need for timber harvests, practices that will benefit wildlife, the causes of dying trees, prescribed burning and other improvements.

To assist landowners in managing their property, the Forestry Commission helps administer cost-share programs. An example is the Alabama Agricultural and Conservation Development Commission Program, which provides cost-sharing for practices aimed at erosion control, agricultural water quality improvement, and improving forest resources. This is one of several programs which may partially reimburse landowners who plant trees or do timber stand improvements.

Prescribed burning is another service the Forestry Commission offers to landowners. Prescribed burning is the controlled use of fire to achieve forest management objectives. By reducing the amount of debris (leaves, twigs, limbs, etc.) on the forest floor through prescribed burning, the chances of a harmful wildfire are lessened. Prescribed burning can also be used to control unwanted plant growth and to improve wildlife habitat. Close to a million acres of land is prescribed burned by landowners in Alabama each year.


Alabama's Best Management Practices for Forestry outlines how to conduct forest management activities while protecting water quality. The Alabama Forestry Commission offers assistance to landowners and timber harvesters on how to best use BMPs. Forestry Commission employees provide planning assistance before, during and after forest management practices such as timber harvests and road construction.

Because we rely so much on wood in our daily lives, many jobs in Alabama depend on the forests. The forest products industry is the number one manufacturing sector of Alabama's economy. This industry is spread across the entire state, with forestry-related jobs in every county. Alabama's forest and wood products industry contributes approximately $13.2 billion to the state's economy each year and has an annual payroll of over $1.9 billion.

It is important that we know what composes our forest resource and how much of it exists. To keep this information current, the Alabama Forestry Commission is cooperating with the USDA Forest Service and forest industry to conduct a survey and update it on a regular basis. Timber growth, species composition and many other factors that affect the forest are being surveyed. This valuable information will be used by a number of different agencies and organizations.

The Forestry Commission works with other agencies and groups to develop, attract and locate opportunities for Alabama's forest products firms. This close working relationship with private and governmental organizations has tremendously enhanced Alabama's effort to expand our existing forest products industries. The forest products industry is the number one investor in Alabama, putting more than $8 billion in new plants and equipment over the last 10 years.

As Alabama becomes a more urban state, the trees in our cities take on even greater importance. The Forestry Commission works to enhance the quality of life in urban areas by improving the management of urban trees. Properly planted and maintained trees can increase property values and reduce energy costs. Cities that have tree programs and meet other criteria are certified by the National Arbor Day Foundation as Tree City USAs. We work closely with cities to help them develop and improve their tree programs so they can meet the criteria for certification.

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Urban Forestry