Use and cost of Best Management Practices (BMPs) and BMP-related sustainable forestry initiative guidelines to Arkansas timber producers

A mail survey was conducted to determine the cost and frequency of use for Best Management Practices (BMPs) and BMP-related Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) guidelines on logging sites across the state by Arkansas timber producers. Respondents were asked to report figures based on their records and estimates, including annual tons of wood produced from 1999 through 2001 and cost estimates for BMPs and BMP-related SFI practices used on their job sites. Practices most frequently utilized by timber producers included planning roads and skid trails, "no tree tops in stream channel," and creating waterbars. The results of this study indicate the cost for implementing BMPs and BMP-related SFI practices was over $12 million in 2001 for Arkansas timber producers.