Forest Harvesting in Virginia, Characteristics of Virginia’s Logging Operations

Virginia’s forests are a vital resource, providing multiple benefits for the
commonwealth’s citizens, forest landowners, and the forest industry. More than
15 million acres, nearly two thirds of the state’s is forested. These forests provide
an estimated $23 billion in total economic output, annually, and provide forestry
related jobs to nearly 145,000 (Rephann 2008). Forest harvesting is often a critical
component of forest management1. Logging operations are essential to implementing
forest management plans and providing income to forest landowners. In 2011, more
than 5,900 timber harvests occurred on more than 248,000 acres of Virginia’s
forested land, and net growth continues to exceed the volume harvested (VDOF 2011).