Natchez Trace State Forest

• TDF cleared all primary forest roads of downed trees.
• TDF mapped damaged areas using our new Unmanned Aircraft Systems program and available geographic information system resources.·
• Salvage timber sales were deemed necessary to improve forest health by reducing risk of disease infestation and to rehabilitate the area for multiple use benefits.
• Map and designate appropriate harvest areas for salvage.
• Salvage operations should be carried out in a timely manner before rot or staining can affect the value of the wood, and to take advantage of strong timber markets. 
• Scheduled harvests not affected by the tornado damage will take place as planned.

Salvage contracts were awarded to private vendors beginning in May 2022 to meet the following objectives:

• Rehabilitate public, state forestland through salvage timber sales.
• Capture value from dead, dying, and severely damaged trees.
• Add additional jobs to the timber and forest industry.
• Generate revenue for the local economy.Improve forest health in the affected areas.

Salvage operations are progressing as planned with the following accomplishments current as of January 31, 2023:

• Completed 6 of 10 sale areas.
• Salvaged 27,365 tons of hardwood sawtimber and 10,954 ton of hardwood pulpwood.
• Salvaged 13,391 tons of pine sawtimber and 6,406 tons of pine pulpwood.
• Collected $1,118,000 in revenue.

All salvage sales were conducted through a sealed bid process and bid on a per ton (pay as cut) basis. Sale boundaries encompassed visibly damaged trees. Adjacent areas accounting for less than 5% of the total sale area were also included, including areas with less noticeable damage and areas. All affected areas provided vectors for an influx of pathogens and pests, creating future forest health risks. Comparing the salvage prices received to historical prices from 2018-2022 at Natchez Trace State Forest, TDF received approximately 50-60% of fair market value for hardwood sawtimber and approximately 25-35% of fair market value for pine sawtimber. The significant difference between hardwood and pine prices is attributed to the lighter weight of pine species compared to hardwood. Percentages for hardwood and pine pulpwood compared to fair market value ranged from 65-75% of value.

The timber sales are just the first phase of the salvage operation with proper reforestation of the harvested sites as the critical next step. Natchez Trace State Forest is widely known as a quality producer of both hardwood and pine timber. The map on the following page identifies the affected areas by species type. Sale areas that were composed of hardwood species will be allowed to naturally regenerate back to high quality stands of hardwood. Pines salvage areas will either be replanted with pine seedlings from the Division’s East Tennessee Nursery or allowed to naturally regenerate back to hardwood. These decisions will be based on sound, scientific forestry practices and strict adherence to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) third party certification processes. Simply stated, the pine sites better suited for pine management will be planted back with pine and sites more advantageous to hardwood management will be regenerated naturally. No conversion of native forest type cover to another forest type will take place.

The final and potentially most important aspect to this project is preparing the sites for future success. Kudzu is a major invasive plant problem in West Tennessee and Natchez Trace State Forest and is currently found in the salvage areas. With the trees removed, increased sunlight will reach the forest floor and provide an ideal habitat for this exotic, invasive species to take over. Plans are being developed to combat this problem and will likely begin this summer after the salvage operations are complete and kudzu is no longer dormant. This will be a significant undertaking at a scale TDF has not been tasked with before. Herbicide application will be utilized for kudzu control and all standards required by TDF’s SFI certification, label requirements, and chemical application plans will be strictly followed. Aerial applications will be communicated with visitors and neighboring residents. The reforestation plan will be finalized once salvage operations are complete.