FORESTS, AIR & WATER

Alabama’s forests supply us with many benefits. Some of these are easily seen, such as wood and wildlife. Some, however, are not as noticeable, but can be even more important to us. Two of these hidden benefits are clean water and clean air.

Forests act as living sponges, catching rain water, cleaning it and slowly releasing it into Alabama’s rivers and streams. The layer of leaves and twigs on the forest floor, called litter, cushions the force of raindrops and prevents soil erosion. Forest soils can absorb up to 18 inches of water from rain or snow. Tree roots hold the soil and prevent it from washing away.

The cleaning value of forests has been known for decades, and has been actively used to protect water quality near reservoirs and lakes. Studies have shown that trees planted on open cropland can reduce soil erosion from 10 tons per acre per year to less than l/2 ton per acre in 3 years.

Trees are nature’s air conditioners. An acre of trees can grow about 2 tons of wood per year. This same acre removes 3 tons of carbon dioxide and produces 2 l/2 tons of oxygen per year. A person uses less than one pound of oxygen per day, or about 278 pounds per year. So every acre of forest produces enough oxygen for 18 people. At the same time, an acre of forest removes 13 tons of dust from the surrounding environment and releases 8,000 gallons of water into the air. This results in forest areas being cooler and cleaner than surrounding areas.

Forests also serve as key habitats for many wildlife species. Trees provide shelter from storms and places for nest building. The seeds from forest trees are a key food source.

When the timber is harvested to produce the many wood products that we need, care is taken to protect the soil and make sure that the trees are rapidly replaced. A set of guidelines called Best Management Practices show landowners how to harvest timber in the most environmentally sensitive way.

Among the things landowners can do are leave filter strips called streamside management zones, and prevent soil erosion from roads and trails. These practices will keep our waterways clean and pure for the benefit of both the fish and all Alabama citizens.

The other key act is to work to make sure that the site is rapidly reforested after harvest. "CUT A TREE, PLANT A TREE." Then the forests will continue to benefit everyone for many future generations.