RNGR.net is sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and Southern Regional Extension Forestry and is a colloborative effort between these two agencies.

U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Forest Service Southern Regional Extension Forestry Southern Regional Extension Forestry

Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Home → Publications → Tree Planters' Notes → Tree Planters' Notes Volume 56, Number 1 (2013) → A Brief History of Reforestation and Restoration in Louisiana

A Brief History of Reforestation and Restoration in Louisiana

Rentz, R. Tree Planters’ Notes 56(1):13-23. 2013.

Louisiana is rich in culture, politics, and ecosystem diversity, all of which have affected forested timber lands and their use over time. Landscape diversity and historic land use changes have also played a significant role in shaping Louisiana forests. Native Americans participated in small agriculture production areas and burned areas for clearing, crop production, and wild game pursuit. European settlements began in the 1700s, and with them came land clearing and draining, levee building, and logging. By the 1930s, the State was almost completely clear-cut. Then, a few forward-looking people introduced forestry and the legislation to support its practice to the State. The works of these leaders—along with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service; the 1904 establishment of the Louisiana Department of Forestry; and the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps program—eventually changed the face of the Louisiana timber industry from one of “cut-and-run” practices to one of vibrant, sustainable forests. Today, environmental and manmade factors threaten millions of acres of forest land. Much work is being done to address these threats, but much still remains to be done.


Download this file:

PDF document Download this file — PDF document, 463Kb

Details

Author(s): Randy Rentz

Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volume 56, Number 1 (2013)

Volume: 56

Number: 1