Letters

Promote forest health

Arkansas’ forests are outgrowing harvests by 25 million tons per year, according to the Arkansas Forestry Division. Our forests have 500 million more tons of wood than in 1978. These overstocked and slower-growing forests are vulnerable to insects, disease and fire.

New markets for small trees and sawmill residues are the best solution to forest health issues. Markets for small trees allow them to be removed, resulting in increased tree growth, health, and income for landowners. Lumber production generates vast amounts of sawdust and wood fragments. Paper mills are the main consumer of these residues, but this market is declining. Landfilling sawmill residues is a cost that can close a sawmill.

One solution would be to use wood pellets to generate electricity. Prop