OCR Text |
Show 1.3 Effects of Expanded Use of Wood as an Alternate Energy Source on Forest Management New technologies for harvesting and processing wood for energy and other uses offer such new and promising possiblities as to almost revolutionize forest products utilization and forest management in Florida. Processes now developed make it practical to use wood residue, stumps and low quality trees heretofore going to waste. These new developments offer opportunities for wood to supply heat energy for homes and industry, manufacturing of oils and gases and new chemicals, as well as energy for generating electricity, steam for heating schools and hospitals, and many other uses. Over half of Florida's forest lands are owned by small and medium landowners. A majority of wood used in Florida's forest industry is harvested from these land-ownerships. Over the years, harvesting has not been done such as to leave these stands in the best of condition, and, therefore, a significantly high volume of rough, rotten and cull trees remain. For a landowner to site, prepare and replant his forest lands under the conventional methods would cost him in the neighborhood of $200 per acre. The materials that are bulldozed in piles and burned are of no value to the landowner. Small and medium landowners generally cannot afford to reforest at existing costs and then wait 20 years for a harvest. As a result, forest production both in quantity and quality diminishes. If the landowner can sell this waste at a reasonable price, he can afford to reforest. Also, with modern harvesting equipment and technology, he can reforest at a fraction of conventional costs. 26-6 |