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Photo by Choctaw Nation
When Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote OKLAHOMA!, they captured a prosperous and energetic vision of our state: waving wheat, cowboys, open plains, and a pioneering spirit. The musical’s iconic opening line—"Oh, what a beautiful mornin’..."—paints a vibrant picture of rural Oklahoma, but it leaves out one striking feature of the State: its vast forests and timberlands.
To more accurately describe the wheat-filled imagery of Oklahoma popularized in the musical, the state consists of just over 44 million acres and once was home to over 12 million acres of forestland which is; now closer to 8.5 million acres due to competing agricultural land use practices and development. Within these remaining acres, about half is classified as commercial forests and the other noncommercial forests. The commercial forestlands are the primary support for a robust forest products industry and woodlands economy, much of which is concentrated in the southeast corner of the state. 1.8 million of those forested acres are considered to be under active professional management as forest “plantations” or “tree farms”. The region, often overshadowed by the state’s prairie identity, is lush, rugged, and its wooded landscape is both productive and heavily populated with hardwood and softwood timber species.
Towns like Antlers, Broken Bow, Idabel, and Talihina sit nestled within the Ouachita Mountains and South Central Plains forests ecosystems. These areas consist of dense pine and mixed hardwood forests, along with bottomland hardwood timberlands. It’s a landscape far removed from the open wheat fields of OKLAHOMA!, yet it plays an essential role in the state’s economy, environment, and Indigenous heritage.
Forestry is one of the most important natural resource-based industry sectors in Oklahoma. Studies show that in 2022 the state’s forest products sector contributed $4.6 billion annually to the economy and supported 19,280 jobs, with a payroll of $1.2 billion, particularly in rural and economically vulnerable communities in southeastern Oklahoma. Major forest products include: dimension lumber, paper, oriented strand board (OSB), medium density fiber board (MDF), wood shavings and landscaping bark, pressure treated fence posts, utility poles and lumber, wood-based chemicals, and biomass for energy.
Several of the most significant corporate facilities in this sector are International Paper (IP) in Valliant and Weyerhaeuser in Idabel, Oklahoma. Both are long-standing Fortune 500 companies. There are many other facilities in southeast Oklahoma that range from just below the multinational level to small local family-owned operations. The larger end of that scale includes Huber Engineered Woods, Pan Pacific, Bell Lumber & Pole, Sunset Molding, and Prowood, are all in McCurtain County.
The International Paper facility is one of the largest paper mills in the southern United States and serves as a major employer in McCurtain County. The mill processes local pine and hardwood into kraft paper and packaging products used across the country. Not only does it provide hundreds of jobs directly, but it also supports a wider network of loggers, truckers, and contractors in the region. International Paper is a cornerstone of southeastern Oklahoma's forest economy, exemplifying how raw timber from the state's forests is transformed into essential everyday products. The mill also offers a large cardboard recycling/reuse feature as part of their paper making process and collects material from the four state area.
The Weyerhaeuser sawmill is the largest of its kind in Oklahoma, and produces southern yellow pine (SYP) dimension lumber with much of this timber originating from the 490,000 acres of company own timberlands. The balance is sourced from private timberlands owners from the tristate region. This company has been at the forefront of advancing forest technology, genetics, and sustainable timber management practices in Oklahoma for decades.
Sustainable forest management ensures these woodlands continue to thrive while supporting their economic development purpose. Proper reforestation, sound harvesting practices, best management practices, and adequate fire management programs all contribute to a healthy forest ecosystem—one that can be both profitable and ecologically responsible many years into the future. Professionals who work in the Oklahoma forest industry agree that the state’s forests are on a sustainable path and there are more trees being planted than are being harvested annually.
With respect to forests and timberlands ownership and economy, we cannot ignore the public sector, including both state and federal land holding in southeast Oklahoma. Much of this forestland is associated with parks, lakes, managements areas, nature preserves and refuge acres. One of the most notable single land holdings is that of the US Forest Service (USFS) managed Ouachita National Forest, established in 1926 consists of about 325,000 acres in central McCurtain County and is part of a larger forest designation extending into Arkansas.
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has deep ancestral and cultural ties to the forested lands of southeastern Oklahoma. Today, the Nation is at the forefront of integrating traditional ecological knowledge with modern forestry science. Through its Forestry and Agriculture programs, the Choctaw Nation actively manages approximately 70,000 acres of tribal land and has identified about 40,000 acres of additional land owned by tribal members who are eligible for its services. The CNO Forest Services Department maintains a staff of approximately 20 employees, headquartered at Talihina, emphasizing sustainable management practices, fire protection & mitigation practices, and wildlife conservation.
One of Choctaw Nation’s key goals is to preserve forestland, not just for economic development, but for cultural continuity. The forest is a source of traditional medicine, food, and ceremony. In addition to timber production, the Nation has used recreational leasing and forest conservation program initiatives that allow for ecological benefits while generating revenue. These practices reflect a balanced and culturally rooted approach to land management that could serve as a model for other tribal nations and public agencies alike.
To support this growing industry, several Oklahoma educational institutions offer degrees in forestry and natural resource management. Oklahoma State University (OSU) is a leading institution in this field, offering a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Ecology and Management with options in Forest Ecology and Management. Students there engage in field-based learning, research on forest ecosystems, and the economics of forest industries. In support of this educational program area, OSU also operates a Forest Research facility near Idabel, OK as a part of its overall research and extension mission.
Eastern Oklahoma State College (EOSC) in Wilburton offers an associate degree in forestry management. The college provides hands-on training for careers in forest operations, conservation, and environmental science. EOSC, with substantial landholding of its own, often serves as the host for the regional and state FFA and 4-H forestry judging contests.
These higher education and extracurricular programs are critical in developing the next generation of foresters, environmental scientists, land managers, and conservation professionals. They ensure Oklahoma’s forests are not only utilized but understood, appreciated, protected and preserved.
The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food and Forestry (ODAFF) functions statewide but concentrates its Oklahoma Forestry Department (ODF) facilities and staff in eastern Oklahoma with one exception being the state nursery. The ODF State Nursery operation is located in central Oklahoma and produces tree seedings for landowner conservation purposes. ODF also maintains a fleet of fire protection units to protect forests and rangeland. Additionally, ODF staff provides a wide variety of landowner education resources and assistance services.
It’s time to add a new stanza to the story of Oklahoma!, one that celebrates not just the golden plains and blue skies, but also the deep green woodlands of the southeast part of our state. The state’s forests, though missing from its most famous musical, are an indispensable part of its natural and cultural landscape.
In a way, the forests of Oklahoma are like an overlooked verse in a well-known song: quieter, more subtle, but no less vital. Whether through the economic strength of the timber industry, the cultural stewardship of the Choctaw Nation, or the educational pathways that prepare tomorrow’s foresters, Oklahoma’s forests and woodlands deserve their spotlight—perhaps not on Broadway, but certainly in the broader narrative of the state.
