FINDING THE WOOD

(courtesy of Alabama Forestry Commission 1982)

Look around you
Firewood is very plentiful if you know where to look. The U.S. Forest Service permits the cutting of firewood for personal use in designated areas of the National Forests. Prior to cutting, obtain a permit from the District Ranger's office covering that area. The permit will state what, where, when and how much you are permitted to cut.

Landowners can benefit by using or selling firewood on their tracts. Many small wood lots contain trees that are not profitable for commercial use such as undesirable species and diseased, forked, or crowed trees. Removing these trees upgrades the forest stand for future timber sale and at the same time produces income that would otherwise be lost. A professional forester, state or private, can advise the landowner on which trees to remove.

Normal logging operations leave behind excess logging slash (limb and tops) unsuitable for commercial use. It can be unsightly and pose a wildfire hazard. Logging