A Boost for Florida Reforestation

With your Southeast Regional Ag News, I am Haylie Shipp. This is the Ag Information Network.

Florida’s reforestation efforts are now getting a boost as Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and the Florida Forest Service have announced the launch of an online portal for purchasing tree seedlings. Available on a first-come, first-served basis, the portal offers various quantities until sold out. Details on availability, delivery, and pricing can be found online at https://ffsseedlingsales.fdacs.gov/

Commissioner Simpson emphasized, 'We’re committed to supporting Florida’s forests with top-quality seedlings, making it easier for landowners to replenish our timber resources.'

Seedlings, including pine varieties like longleaf and slash, are typically sold in increments of 1,000, with options for smaller quantities of 500 or 250 seedlings.

From the Southeast Climate Hub of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the state of Florida is blanketed with a patchwork of pine forests, hardwood swamps, and savannahs that cover nearly 17 million acres, which is roughly 50% of the state’s land area. The ecosystem services Florida’s forests provide have an estimated value of $30 billion a year. However, many threats including invasive species, disease, and hurricane activity cause major damage every year.