Building 2563
Essayons Way
Fort Jackson, SC 29207

Fort Jackson home Page

Please Read The Security, Privacy and Disclaimer Statements

  The Forest Management Plan is a five year plan which is an integral part of the Integrated Natural Resources Plan. Objectives of the plan include:

• Improving training lands for the military

• Supporting the Red-cockaded Woodpecker Endangered Species Management Plan

• Generating sufficient income from timber and pine straw sales to engender a self-supporting program

     The plan contains maps depicting locations of various forestry activities by fiscal years and is updated and reviewed annually for environmental compliance and concurrence of the military trainers.

Use of Technology in Forest Inventory

• Fort Jackson uses a Geographic Information System (GIS) to integrate forest management activities with both the military mission and other natural resources management activities.

• In 1998, the installation purchased a new timber inventory software program.  The data collected on handheld data recorders allowed for faster, more reliable gathering of forest inventory data.  In 2006, a new forest inventory program was purchased which integrates GIS with GPS that allows for faster and even more accurate forest inventory data collection.

Restoration of Longleaf Pine Ecosystem

     Once part of the largest forest community in North America, the Longleaf Pine ecosystem originally occupied over 90 million acres. However, its reputation for slow growth and difficult regeneration motivated the cultivation of other types of pine forests, reducing the Longleaf Pine ecosystem to about 3,000,000 acres. This decline was unfortunate, since the open, park-like stands of Longleaf Pine provide an ideal training environment for Fort Jackson’s military. Additionally, the Longleaf Pine is a preferred habitat of the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker in this region.

     Fort Jackson launched a major initiative in 1993 to restore the Longleaf Pine ecosystem on sites where it historically occurred. During the 1993-2001 Fort Jackson converted 6,340 acres to Longleaf Pine.  Today about 15,000 acres of Longleaf Pine exist on Fort Jackson..

Since 1995, Fort Jackson has thinned over 6,000 acres. Thinning regulates the density of the timber stands to improve the overall health and vigor of the forest. All receipts from harvested timber are used to offset management costs.

     Prior to 1999, Fort Jackson designated timber stands to be thinned by marking each individual tree to be removed. Since this method was very labor-intensive, Fort Jackson instituted a new system of timber harvest known as operator select in 1999. Under this system, the timber harvester selects which trees to leave based on contract guidelines, reducing man-hours required for thinning timber stands by 75% and making previously unprofitable stands profitable.

     Overall, the operator select system allows Fort Jackson to harvest more acres at less cost. In addition, overall forest health is improved because more acres are thinned each year.

Establishment and Protection of Unique Forest Areas

     By the end of 1999, Fort Jackson had designated six "natural areas" that harbor rare species.  These natural areas are protected from disturbance. All six areas were coordinated and approved by Fort Jackson’s Wildlife Branch, Master Planning Office, Directorate of Plans, Training and Mobilization, and the South Carolina Army National Guard, Leesburg Training Center. These organizations are evaluating twelve additional proposed natural areas for approval.

Commercial Forestry Program

     Fort Jackson’s commercial forestry program includes the sale of commercial timber and pine straw.  Over the past five years, this program has generated annual revenues averaging between $350,000 and $400,000 that fund all forestry personnel salaries and the purchase of supplies and equipment.

Firewood Permits

     Firewood permits are issued every Thursday from 1130 -1230 at the Forestry Office, building 2563, beginning 4 October 2007.  The permits will be valid for any two days of the following week. Specific areas will be designated for cutting firewood. Only two permits per household will be issued each year. The firewood is for personal use only, and will not be sold. The firewood permits are issued at no cost. POC for the firewood program is John Maitland, 751-4622.

Timber Stand Improvements

     Since 1997, Fort Jackson has thinned over 1,590 acres. Thinning regulates the density of the timber stands to improve the overall health and vigor of the forest. All trees harvested are sold to offset management costs.

Timber harvesting improves the Red-cockaded Woodpecker habitat.