Sustainable Management Practices Protect Tennessee State Forests

In partnership with: Tennessee Department of Agriculture

Tennessee is a land of trees, home to nearly 14 million acres of public and private forested terrain – equivalent to more than half the land in the state. This land includes 16 state forests spanning about 172,000 acres across all corners of Tennessee.

From John Tully State Forest in Lauderdale County to Martha Sundquist State Forest in Cocke County, these diverse forests are protected and managed by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF). In 2020, the division was recognized for its forest stewardship efforts when it was certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). To be SFI certified, TDF must continually meet a set of rigorous sustainable forest management standards.

See more: Logging On: Meet a Tennessee Forestry Family

“That certification is certainly important to us,” says Andy McBride, State Forest Unit Leader, adding that their mission is to protect, conserve and enhance Tennessee’s forests.

Preventing Threats

Keeping Tennessee forests healthy and sustainable is a tall order, as they face threats like disease, wildfires, and invasive plants and insects.

“Invasive plants are a significant concern for us,” says Tennessee State Forester Heather Slayton. “Certain nuisance trees, grasses and other plants grow very well in Tennessee.”

Kudzu, a vine that wraps itself around trees, is one of those problematic plants. If left on a tree, kudzu can smother it, impeding its growth or even killing the tree.

Foresters use a variety of methods to fight this invasive plant, including herbicidal treatment, large rotary tillers that can tear it up, hand pulling, and even enlisting the help of hungry goats ready to munch.

The spongy moth is an insect that threatens the state’s hardwood trees. This is bad news, as 73% of the state’s woodlands are composed of oak-hickory forests. To monitor for these pests, foresters put out special traps from May through August, and then take action to address any apparent outbreaks.

Meanwhile, wildfires also put Tennessee’s forests at risk.

The state’s wildfire season spans from October through May. Slayton says TDF remains prepared for this threat with a staff of well-trained wildland firefighters and state-of-the-art equipment.

Cutting Back

Although it may seem antithetical, maintaining a healthy forest sometimes requires cutting down trees. For instance, McBride explains that downing older trees promotes the growth of younger ones by creating space and opening the canopy up for sunlight.

Harvesting these trees is a win-win, as it improves forest health and biodiversity while also supporting Tennessee’s timber industry, which accounts for about 4% of the state’s total economic activity. Foresters also remove any unhealthy trees plagued with insects or disease.

See more: Tennessee Forestry Experts Provide Education and Job Training

But don’t worry about Tennessee’s forests shrinking anytime soon. Megan Carpenter, communications and outreach unit leader for TDF, says they only harvest about 1% of the state’s forests each year.

“We’re always growing more than we’re cutting,” McBride adds. “This ensures that the wood supply never runs out.”

Healthy Forests, Healthy People

“One of our big goals is to keep forests as forests,” Carpenter says.

But it isn’t just about hiking trails, timber sales and growing new trees, she adds, pointing to the many scientifically proven health benefits of trees. For instance, exposure to forests and trees is associated with lower blood pressure and improved mood.

“That characteristic of Tennessee helps to make us a happier and more balanced society,” she says.

See more: The Sustainable Forestry Initiative Benefits Tennessee’s Woodlands

That’s one of the reasons the department also focuses on urban and community forestry, helping to expand green spaces in metropolitan areas, where about 70% of the state’s population resides.

“Our program aims to enrich communities, strengthen infrastructure and support citizens’ well-being with healthy and sustainable urban forests,” Carpenter says.

State Forests by the Numbers

Tennessee is home to 16 state forests.

There are 14 million acres of forested land in Tennessee.

9.7 million acres of nonindustrial private forest land.

52% of state land is in forests.

Source: U.S. Forest Service