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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!
Plows and Politics 