Florida Forestry Economic Highlights

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Since the 1930s, natural resource managers have relied on the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program, the most comprehensive forest monitoring and analysis system in existence. FIA is a reliable means of gauging changes to wildlife habitat, timber supplies, the environment and natural resources. In order to monitor forests’ natural resource trends in a timely and useful manner, the Florida Forest Service operates under the goal of attaining FIA data on a five-year cycle. The following report focuses on the economic impacts of forestry in Florida and was constructed from the latest 2013 FIA data available and the 2013 Summary of Economic Contributions of Forestry and Forest Product Manufacturing Industries in Florida by Implan Group, LLC.

Of Florida’s 17.3 million acres of forest land, 15.4 million acres of timberlands support economic activities in Florida. These economic activities generated $14.52 billion in total output impacts in 2013. This was 13% less than 2012 output impacts, but 4% more than in 2008, the lowest point in the recent economic recession.

In 2013, the Florida forest products industry supported 74,500 full and part-time jobs, which were 9,800 fewer jobs than in 2012. However, this also represents a 16% increase in employment when compared to its lowest point in 2008.

At $5.54 billion in 2013, the export value of Florida’s forest products to out-of-state destinations decreased by 6% since 2012. However, this number also represents a significant increase of 40% when compared to low 2008 export values.

In 2013, production and imports of Florida forestry and forest products industries generated $442 million in tax impacts. Of that, $354 million were generated by the pulp and paper sector, $34 million by forest tract management and logging activities, $40 million by secondary products manufacturing, and $14 million by lumber, veneer and panel manufacturing industries.

In 2013, Florida timberland ownership, which supports the forest products industry was 71% private (66% non-industrial, and 5% forest industry), 18% state and local, and 11% federal. Annual Wood Harvest:  Between years 2009 and 2013, Florida on average harvested 472.5 million cubic feet of wood annually. Of that amount, approximately 90% was harvested from private and 10% from publicly owned timberlands. Nearly 63% of all harvested wood was either slash pine or longleaf pine. Collectively, all southern yellow pines supplied 425.6 million cubic feet, or 90% of all harvested wood annually. The remainder of wood harvest consisted of cypress and hardwood species.

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To view the full report or to find more information about Forest Utilization and the Forest Inventory Analysis program, visit FloridaForestService.com or contact Dr. Jarek Nowak at (850) 681-5883 or Jarek.Nowak@FreshFromFlorida.com