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| Andrew Smith Senior Assistant Director Governmental Relations |
I have
written about this before, but it’s always an important thing to remember. I’ve
been fortunate to have traveled the Commonwealth a great deal this year, and it
seems everywhere I go I see timber harvesting being conducted. It’s a vital
part of the cycle needed for healthy timber production. Over 77 percent of
Virginia’s forest is privately owned, much of it in conjunction of farming
operations across our state. Forestry generates $17
billion annually in total industry output In Virginia. It’s a great feeling
seeing a healthy economy for timber these days, and it’s an awesome sight to
see one of our greatest renewable resources being harvested and to begin its
journey into forest products.
Whether
you are planning to harvest your timber now or just managing your stand, it’s
important to know where your boundary lines are, and, even more importantly,
that they are clearly marked to help avoid any timber trespass to occur on your
land. As I get older I realize that property I once walked often now becomes
more of a chore, and I am relatively a “flat lander,” so I am sure it’s even
more of a challenge for folks in the western part of the state to walk their
property lines. It’s imperative to make sure not only yourself know your lines,
but your neighbors do, and a potential harvester can clearly identify those
property lines when it comes to the day those tress are cut. The Code of
Virginia details how your property should be marked to prevent timber
trespass/theft in §
55-334.1. The Virginia
Department of Forestry has produced an excellent publication called Prevent
Timber Theft. I encourage you to check this publication out.
The
Virginia Farm Bureau Annual Meeting that will take place November 30 – December
3 in Norfolk, Virginia this year. One of the education workshops is entitled “Property
Security Concerns for Landowners" conducted by Aaron Gilland, President, Dendro Resource Management, Inc. Aaron
will give a presentation on the importance of knowing and monitoring your property, not just for potential theft,
but also what to look for in illegal activities on your property and steps to
help stop problems from happening. I encourage you to attend the workshop if
you are joining us in Norfolk this year.
In the
meantime check out the below handouts/articles on the subject!
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