Forests cover 48 percent, approximately 13.8 million acres, of Louisiana's land area. Fifty-nine of Louisiana's 64 parishes contain land capable of producing sufficient timber to support forest industry activities as well as provide habitat for wildlife, recreation, scenic beauty and all the other environmental benefits timberlands provide.

There are approximately 148,000 owners of Louisiana forest land. Private, non-industrial landowners own 62 percent of the state's forest land, forest products industries own 29 percent, and the public owns nine percent.

In 1999, forestry accounted for 69 percent of the total value of all plant commodities grown in Louisiana. Forestry contributes 55 percent of the value of Louisiana’s land-based industries, which includes all plants, animals, fresh water and marine fisheries. Timber is manufactured throughout the state into building materials, paper and chemical products, furniture, fixtures and numerous other products used in every day life. Manufacturing residues are recovered for mulch, bedding, fuel and other products. Sawmills, panel plants, paper and pulp mills, chip mills, peeling plants, treating facilities and secondary manufacturers such as furniture companies, millwork and cabinet manufacturers are prevalent in Louisiana.

Timberland owners had 1.3 billion board feet of sawtimber and 6.25 million cords of pulp and chip-n-saw wood harvested in 1999.

The economic impact of forestry and wood-using industries to the state economy in 1999 was 4.4 billion dollars. Forest landowners received 680 million dollars from sale of their timber which provided 20.8 million dollars of severance taxes. Each log truck provides an average of 835 dollars in local, state and federal taxes.

The resource supports 180 primary and 750 secondary wood-using industries that position Louisiana's forest industries as the second largest manufacturing employer in the state. In 1999, 25,514 people were employed in forest manufacturing with an estimated 8,000 employees harvesting and transporting timber. Manufacturing employees earned 927 million dollars in 1998. Timber harvesting contractors and their employees earned 555 million dollars in 1998.

During the 1998 planting season, Louisiana landowners reforested the land with over 102 million pine and hardwood tree seedlings. That many trees equates to 279,452 seedlings planted each day for a year! Every year more and more seedlings are planted to provide forests for the future.

Louisiana is a state blessed with abundant natural resources. Timber and the practice of professional forestry has and will continue to provide many products and benefits our society depends on and enjoys.

The department's forest product marketing, utilization and development program provides information and assistance involving wood products. A key focus of the program is providing economic development assistance for existing, start-up, expanding and out-of-state corporations to the primary and secondary forest industry sectors.

Biomass energy related activities are coordinated through the Southeastern Regional Biomass Energy Program.

If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact any of our departmental representatives.

Southeastern Regional Biomass Energy Program

Louisiana Christmas Trees

Foreign Land Ownership

Pine Straw Balers

Primary Forest Industry 
   List (PDF, 38KB) 
   Key (PDF, 13KB)

1991 Forest Inventory

Louisiana's Timber Industry - An Assessment of Timber Product Output and Use, 2002