Facts About Virginia Forests

Forested Acreage, Ownership, and Tree Inventory Data

The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) collects data on and performs mapping of Virginia's forest land. GIS mapping and forestand data collection is performed by our Forest Inventory & Analysis division.

Forest facts for Virginia
View forestland information for each county in Virginia.
Virginia Forest Land Ownership
Forested acreage of Virginia - This information is from the U. S. Forest Service Forest Inventory data and several historical references.
Virginia's Forests, 2007. Comprehensive data covering all species and counties in the state.
Forest Inventory & Analysis (FIA) - This United States Forest Service Web site offers online databases.

GIS Mapping and Economic Information

The Economic Benefits of Forest Industry Data
Data Collection, Mapping and Visualization Data from Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Reports

Virginia's Forests, 2007. Between 2002 and 2007, the Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program conducted the eighth inventory of the forests of Virginia. About 15.7 million acres, or 62 percent, of Virginia was forested. The majority (12.4 million acres) of Virginia’s forest land was in nonindustrial private forest ownership. Public ownership and forest industry ranked second and third, with 2.8 and 0.6 million acres, respectively. (English; PDF format)
Forest statistics for Virginia, 1992. 66 pp. (English; PDF format).
Virginia's timber industry - an assessment of timber product output and use, 1995. (English; PDF format).
A forested tract-size profile of Virginia's NIPF landowners. Information and statistics on non-industrial private forest landowners. (English; PDF format).

Walking, Hiking and Boating
A State Forest Use Permit is not required for forest visitors who walk, hike or boat on a state forest.

Riding Bicycles and Riding Horses
On forests where these activities are allowed, a valid State Forest Use Permit is required for persons aged 16 years-old or older.

Hunting and Fishing
On forests where these activities are allowed, a valid State Forest Use Permit and valid hunting or fishing license are required for persons aged 16 years-old or older in accordance with state regulations.

State Forest Use Permits
Permits cost $16 USD and are valid for one year from date of purchase. Permits can be purchased two ways:

Go to any location where you purchase a hunting license. Ask the clerk for the “State Forest Permit” to be added to your license.
Use your credit card and purchase a permit online from the Virginia Department Of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) website. After you sign in, find “Special Licenses” and select “State Forest use Permit.”