Department of Forestry work more closely and in harmony with planning personnel. The Department, in cooperation with forest industry, is working to ensure continued supplies of clean water originating in forested watersheds. This is being accomplished by timber harvesting guidelines and implementing a new initiative to further protect water quality through the establishment and maintenance of riparian forest buffers. More than 400,000 non-industrial private forest landowners own 77 percent of the commercial timberland. These landowners receive many economic benefits of forest land ownership, which, in turn, contribute to Virginia's economy.
Income is derived from timber sales, hunting, fishing, and recreational leases.
The Virginia Department of Forestry, private industry and consultants assist these non-industrial private landowners in forest resource management and reforestation to maintain healthy, sustainable forests. Virginia's forest products are a key component of a continued strong economy providing income and jobs.