The Powhatan office of the Virginia Department of Forestry has a large area in its care: 172,160 acres. Of the total amount, 127,163 acres are classified as commercial forest land and is owned primarily by individuals.

The department does more than plant seedlings and watch out for fires.  There are erosion programs, reforestation efforts, and technical services available to both individuals and commercial tree growers.

Landowners may call the office for land exams or insect and disease problems.

If you are building on a wooded lot, protect your trees.  Do not allow dozers or trucks to get into the drip lines of the trees you want to save.

This will prevent soil compression which breaks rootlets, causing the tree to die.  This may take three to five years after compression.

Perhaps one of the best public relations campaigns ever devised has been the Smokey Bear program. Contrary to the old joke about his middle name there is no "the" between Smokey and Bear.  The highly-visible spokesbear is well known to more than two generations.  His admonition of "Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires" is known to millions of children and adults throughout the United States.

The Department of Forestry operates three nurseries in the state for the production of 100 percent, genetically-improved seedlings to be used in reforestation projects on cutover land and farm land no longer in agricultural production.  These seedlings are sold to the public at cost.

To contact this department, call 598-4728.

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