Commercial forests in Alabama support 13 cords of timber per acre. Yearly growth on these forests is over one-half of one cord of timber every acre. This boost in volume and growth occurred even though there was an increase in the use of hardwoods by pulp mills. According to USDA Forest Service, growth is up dramatically because of increases in vigor and apparent better management of existing stands. Sawtimber volume for pine showed little change since 1982 for 1 total of 42.8 billion board feet.
Enough lumber exists in Alabama's forest to build and furniture nearly three million houses.
Alabama is cutting more pine volume than is grown on an annual basis. In responding to this trend, new planting and forest management programs have been put in place and are having a positive impact. Indications of change show that certain areas are being more heavily cut than others. This is particularly true through the mid-section of Alabama and includes North Central Alabama. North Central Alabama has a critical problem with softwood overcutting.