The payoff: Louisiana could double the size of its forest economy, if we had the forest resources out there,'' said Dr. G.H. Weaver, head of the Louisiana Tech University School of Forestry in Ruston.

An advocate of intensive cultivation of forest timber stands, Dr. Weaver made the statement as part of his presentation, ``Maximizing Your Forest Assets,'' at the 16th annual Ark-La-Tex Forestry Forum in Shreveport on March 9.

The additional economic activity would come from new investment in manufacturing based on availability of raw material.

Dr. Weaver joined with Dr. Ray Newbold, also of Louisiana Tech School of Forestry, to present research data on various cultivation methods, and the economic outcomes.

Natural pine stands in Louisiana are declining in total acreage, as harvest intensifies. Planted pine acreage began to exceed natural pine stands during the mid-1990s, and is projected to continue to more than double within the next ten to 15 years. Thus, attention to cultivation methods for maximum productivity becomes even more important.
To maximize production, attention must be paid to control of competitive vegetation in pine stands, to the stocking density, to the use of genetically improved seedings, and fertilization.

In his presentation to the Forum, Louisiana Forestry Association President Don Powell made a strong pitch for membership in LFA, which represents the forest industry in legislative, education, and professional matters.
Powell said the Association's goal is to reach 3,000 members by the end of this year. ``The force and weight of your commitment to staying in business, as evidence by your membership in LFA, would go a long way toward helping us do a better job of representing the forest community,'' he said.

The Association sponsors forestry education for teachers and students in Louisiana's schools , conducts continuing education for loggers and other forestry professionals, to qualify them to do a better job for landowners while protecting the soil, waterways, and environment.

``When the Association was formed back in 1947, our forests were not in such good shape,'' Powell said. ``The total volume of timber of all tree species on all ownerships in the state amounted to less than 12 billion cubic feet of wood. Today that volume has swelled through efforts of forest landowners to 18 billion cubic feet, even though during the last half of the century we cut and used 25 billion cubic feet. We started with 12, we harvested and used over 25, and today we have 18. I call that success. I call that having your cake and eating it, too.''

The Ark-LaTex Forum, coordinated by Ricky Kilpatrick, District Forestry Agent for LSU Extension Service, was attended by approximately 200 forest landowners, loggers, foresters and others.

Presentations included information on marketing timber, by Gary Patterson, consulting forester; benefits of lease vs. owner management of forest land, by Dr. Michael Dunn, LSU Ag Center, Baton Rouge; media relations, by Bobby Soileau; regional and national forestry issues, by Dr. Bill Hubbard, Southern Regional Extension Forester, University of Georgia; status of activities on EPA pollution regulations; timber theft problems by Jim Baldwin, enforcement officer, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.