As directed in the 2022 Acts of the General Assembly, the Virginia Department of Forestry has prepared this assessment of the environmental benefits of the Commonwealth’s forests and forest economy. This report is intended to provide a brief overview of the environmental benefits provided by trees and forests, describe threats affecting the provision of those benefits, and share opportunities to increase benefits, particularly related to atmospheric carbon.

Trees and forests are being recognized more and more for the environmental and human health benefits they provide in addition to traditional forest products. Virginia’s trees and forests provide critical habitat and crucial benefits such as reduced stormwater and flooding impacts, moderating temperatures, capturing air pollutants, carbon sequestration and storage, and protecting and increasing the supply of clean drinking water. Almost half of all Virginia surface water originates from state and privately owned forestlands.

Today, two-thirds of Virginia is covered in forest and the productivity of these forests has been increasing for decades. Over those past 60 years, the amount of wood being utilized from our forests has doubled while ongoing forest inventories show that these forests are growing far more wood than is being removed. Because wood is made from carbon, forest growth means carbon sequestration. A national assessment found that Virginia ranked third for statewide forest carbon uptake, an amazing result considering Virginia ranks 24th in total forest acres.

While our forests are healthy and productive, they face many threats such as exotic pests and diseases, invasive plant species, weather extremes and climate changes, and lack of natural fire cycles. Trees in developed areas face many of the same environmental challenges as forest trees along with the underlying stress of growing in the built environment. The only existential threat to our forests is from deforestation related to land use change. All these challenges that affect forest health also influence the capacity of the forest to provide environmental benefits.

Because 80 percent of our forests are privately owned and stewarded, it is the individual land management decisions made by over 400,000 individuals, families, and businesses that will have the greatest effect on the health and sustainability of the forest resource. Management options are heavily dependent upon available markets for forest products because timber harvesting provides the financial incentive for forest protection and management for most landowners. Fortunately, forest management and timber harvesting can enhance forest health and the level of environmental benefits they provide.

Utilizing wood and wood-based products supports local and diverse markets for forest products which in turn supports private forest protection, management and retention. Utilizing long-lived wood products such as for building materials also provides for long-term storage of carbon sequestered by trees. Utilizing a natural, sustainable, and renewable product such as wood can further reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the need to use other fossil fuel based or carbon intensive materials.

Sustainable management of our trees and forests, and the increased use of forest products provide the most cost-effective method to support both the environmental and economic health of Virginia as well as the health and well-being of our citizens.