Basic facts for NH/VT forests
(also available in PDF format)
Topic |
New Hampshire[1] |
Vermont[2] |
| Land in forest | 84% |
78% |
| Forest owned by state/federal government | 22% |
14% |
| Forest that is privately owned | 70% |
81% |
| Forest in hardwoods | 53% |
66% |
| Forest in white/red pine | 17% |
11% |
| Board feet[3] of hardwood | 70.4 million |
103 million |
| Board feet3 of softwood | 178 million |
119 million |
| Value forest-based manufacturing shipments | $1.6 billion |
$1 billion |
| Revenue from recreation and toursism | $940 million |
$425 million |
| Employment for forest-based economy (payroll) |
9,800 |
7,800 |
| Employment for forestry recreation-tourism economy (payroll) | 11,000 |
6,000 |
| Forest contributions to state’s manufacturing economy | 9.5% of shipments |
11% of shipments |
| Number of landowners in forest economy[4] | 84,000 |
9,000 |
| Approx income (landowners) from logging | $34.4 million |
$30 million |
| Approximate tax to municipalities | $4 million |
|
| Maple sugar producers / production | 400 |
2,400 |
| Number of sawmills[5] | 100 |
185 |
| Licensed foresters practicing in state | 180 |
|
| Energy produced from wood (heat/power) | 5.8% |
6% |
| Biomass – green woodchips (revenue) |
691,751 tons |
199,228 tons |
| Value maple syrup, Xmas trees & wreaths | $17.5 million |
$18.6 million |
| Cord-wood[6] produced (value) | 45,696 cords |
272,000 cords |
Natural Value of Forests
In addition to the economic values of forests, displayed in the chart above, the forests of Vermont and New Hampshire
- provide critical habitat for wildlife
- provide a filter to protect water quality
- recharge groundwater efficiently
- reduce stormwater runoff
- increase air quality
- store carbon
- cool urban and regional environment
- provide aesthetic and recreational enjoyment
The Forest Industry
Most forests are privately owned. The future of forests in the area depends upon a healthy forest products industry, with enough economic incentive for landowners to hold and manage forest land.
The region's forest industry includes timber harvesting and trucking; primary processing; wood products manufacturing; pulp and paper-making; and wood energy production (home heating and power supply), as well as maple sugar and Christmas tree industry.
Forest websites
New Hampshire Websites:
http://www.dred.state.nh.us/divisions/forestandlands/index.htm NH Division of Forests.
http://extension.unh.edu/Forestry/Forestry.htm -- workshops, fact sheets, research. Links to county extension foresters.
http://www.hubbardbrook.org/ Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study, a long-term study of 7800-acre reserve, established in 1955 by the USDA.
Vermont Websites:
http://www.vtfpr.org/ Vt Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (DFPR)
http://stumpage.uvm.edu/education.php UVM extension information on forestry.
http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc/ Proctor Maple Research Center, project of UVM
http://www.mapleinfo.org/ A project of the DFPR , a clearinghouse for maple industry.
Other websites:
http://www.fs.fed.us/ USDA Forest Service
http://www.nefainfo.org/ The North East State Foresters Association
http://www.northernforestlands.org/ The website is joint project of the NE Foresters’ Association, the US Forest Service, and State and Private forestry groups.
http://www.americanforests.org/ American Forests works to protect and restore trees and forests.