Opportunity for Louisiana’s Timber Industry

By Don Molino, The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network

During his report on the Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Mike Strain said China has imposed a total ban on commercial logging.

Prior to the total ban China had banned all logging in the national forests of north and northeastern China.

According to Strain’s report,  China is the world’s largest importer of timber and second largest consumer of timber and their timber needs are forecast to reach 700 million cubic meters.

China is making moves to create 20 national forest reserves in seven key areas of that country in the hope of reducing their dependence on timber imports to less than 30% by the year 2030.  Stain says China has been logging about 49.9 million cubic meters of timber each year.

“This presents a tremendous opportunity for Louisiana’s timber industry,” said Strain. “Our timber industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that pays more than $725 million dollars in federal, state and local taxes each year.  More than 14 million acres of the state’s 27.8 million acres are in commercial tree farms or timber.”