Florida's 16 million acres of forests represent the major land use in the Sunshine State. Despite an increase in forest fragmentation, timber remains a major part of Florida's economy. This is reflected in both the forest resource base and in the products harvested from private and public lands.
The information found on this page is provided to help ensure sustainabiility and good conservation as more and more demands are made on Florida's forest resources.
NEW!! Woody Biomass Economic Study
Study report to the Florida legislature including economic impact analysis on the effects of granting financial incentives to energy producers who use woody biomass as fuel, including an analysis of effects on wood supply and prices and impacts on current markets and forest sustainability.
The study shows a signficant amount of renewable energy can be developed through the utilization of woody biomass, while still keeping the forest resources of Florida sustainable and current forest industries strong. The key to success however, is an enhanced reforestation program in Florida, better utilization of urban wood waste, logging debris and understory vegetation and support of the development of short rotation energy crops as renewable demands increase.
The study and report is available at www.fl-dof.com.
Florida's Potential Biomass Availability
2008 Harvest & Utilization Study for Florida
This bulletin presents the findings of a 2008 harvest and utilization study in Florida. The study's main goal was to provide an estimate of softwood and hardwood volume used, and of volume left in the woods as logging residue. Click here for a printable copy of the study.
Florida market potential for biomass
The Bipartisan Policy Center’s National Commission on Energy Policy awarded the University of Tennessee’s Biobased Energy Analysis a grant to undertake an economic analysis of the economic costs and benefits from a Federal RPS policy to agricultural counties in Colorado, Florida, Kansas, and North Carolina. The focus of this study centers on the impact of RES policy on farm revenue, taking a close look at the true potential of new markets for biomass resources in these states and the revenue that these markets could generate at the farm level. According to the findings, Renewable Energy Standard policies "are expected to create a large new market for biomass from the agricultural and forestry sectors, and as a result, to have a positive effect on farm income, according to the study. Under a 25% RES policy in 2025, the study projected that increases in gross receipts range from $9,419 per farm in Florida, $11,283 per farm in Colorado, $16,028 per farm in North Carolina and $43,229 per farm in Kansas." To view a copy of the Florida Study and findings, go to this website.
Woody Biomass Economic Study
Assessing Current and Long-term Woody Biomass Supply
Assessing Economic Impacts and Changes in Demand
Economic Impact Analysis of Woody Biomass Utilization for Bioenergy in Florida
FIA-plot Data Retrieval System
2007 Florida 8th Cycle Forest Inventory Analysis Summary
3.18.09 - Power Point Presentation, Jarek Novak, PhD, Florida Division of Forestry
Forest Biomass and Renewable Energy Production in Florida
3.18.09 - Power Point Presentation, Jarek Novak, PhD, Florida Division of Forestry
12.13.07 - Power Point Presentation, Jarek Novak, PhD, Florida Division of Forestry
7.08 - Power Point Presentation, Florida PSC, Michele Curtis/Clay Bethea, Buckeye
Governor's Action Team on Energy and Climate Change.
Florida Economic Impact Study
3.18.09 - Power Point Presentatin, Jarek Novak, PhD, Florida Division of Forestry
