Almost 80% of our area is covered in trees. Logging is a major industry. Trees are important habitat for our wildlife, and they provide a great deal of our scenic beauty. With much of our landscape being steep, trees protect the land from erosion and ensure good water quality. There are many benefits and many objectives for managing the forests.
For many years, tens of thousand acres were owned by commercial forest interests. In recent years, many of the commercial holdings have been sold to private investors who have a variety of interests. There are several kinds of forests:
Pine Plantations. Most of the pine has been planted for pulp and lumber. Pine forests are usually managed carefully--much like a farm crop, only the growing season is much longer.
Bottomland Hardwoods. While not as important as in West Tennessee, the wooded areas along the streams are fertile and produce high quality hardwood timber that usually grows rapidly.
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