Alabama. State Commission of Forestry

Authorities:

Code of Alabama 1975, 9:1:1 - 9:3:17. (Charlottesville: The Michie Company, 1977).

Markley Anne Ethelyn. Author Headings for the Official Publications of the State of Alabama. (Chicago: American Library Association, 1948).

The Legislature in 1907 established the State Commission of Forestry. Members of the Commission were the Governor as ex-officio chairman, the Game and Fish Commissioner, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, a member of the State Tax Commission, one practical lumberman engaged in the manufacture of lumber in Ala., a member of the U.S. Forest Service, and the Professor of Forestry at the Alabama Polytechnical Institute. The Commission was required to meet biannually at Montgomery; members received no compensation for their services.

To the Commission of Forestry belonged the responsibility of inquiring into and publishing an annual report on the condition of Ala.'s forests, with specific emphasis on the preservation of forests and the effects of their destruction on the welfare of the State; promoting a proper appreciation of the benefits derived from forest preservation; and recommending desirable legislation concerning forestry. (Acts of Alabama 1907, No. 90, Sec. 1-3)

The Governor was authorized upon the Commission's recommendation to accept gifts of land to the State to be administered as forest reserves. A provision of the act creating the Commission allowed for the owners of land denuded of trees or land assessed at less than five dollars per acre to cultivate timber trees for a period of ten years. During the ten years of cultivation the land was exempt from taxation. (Acts of Alabama 1907, No. 90, Sec. 4)

Game and Fish Wardens of the Dept. of Game and Fish were designated to serve as Forest Wardens. All sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, constables, marshalls, and justices of the peace were declared ex-officio deputy forest wardens. It was the duty of the forest wardens and deputy wardens to protect the State forest reserves; to report any violations of law to the Commission; to assist in apprehending and prosecuting offenders; to make an annual report to the Commission concerning the condition of forests in their respective counties; and to organize local crews to combat forest fires. (Acts of Alabama 1907, No. 90, Sec. 6-8)

A reorganization of the Commission occurred in 1923. The Governor continued to serve as ex-officio chairman. Members of the Commission were the Commissioner of Conservation, three practical lumbermen, two landowning farmers, and a State Forester, who served as Secretary of the Commission and chief executive officer.

It was required that the State Forester be a technically trained forester with at least two years experience in technical and administrative work. He was required to give instruction in Forestry at the Alabama Polytechnical Institute and the University of Ala. He maintained an office in Montgomery. (Acts of Alabama 1923, No. 486, Sec. 1, 2, 4)

Oct. 1932 the Legislature transferred from the Office of State Auditor to the Commission of Forestry responsibility for the administration of all lands which had been sold to the State for taxes unpaid; all sixteenth section school lands; all school indemnity lands; the salt springs reservation; all swamp and overflow lands; and the duties of the Land Clerk (Acts of Alabama 1932, No. 104, Sec. 6). Duties relating to lands sold for taxes were transferred to the State Land Commissioner in the State Tax Commission in 1935 (Markley, p. 94).

In 1939 the Legislature abolished the Commission of Forestry, assigning its functions and duties to the Dept. of Conservation, Forestry Division. The State Forester had responsibility for the direction, supervision, and control of the division. (Acts of Alabama 1939, No. 162, Sec. 12)

In 1969 the Legislature removed the Forestry Division from the Department of Conservation and established it as the State Forestry Commission. (Acts of Alabama 1969, No. 764, Sec. 1)

From the description of Agency history record. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 145407890