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What Is This Indicator, and Why Is It Important?
This indicator reports trends in timber harvest, by region and by
primary product category (sawlogs, pulpwood, etc.) The production
of wood products provides employment, generates economic benefits,
and meets society’s needs for wood, paper and other products.
Demand for these products drives harvesting and other forest management
activities.
What Do the Data Show? Nationally, timber harvest
increased by about 35% from 1952 to 2001. There was slow, steady
growth through 1976, followed by a sharp increase from 1976 to
1986, and a subsequent decline. After 1986, harvest continued
to rise in the East, but this increase was more than offset by
decreases in harvest in the West. However, the 1996-2001
period showed a slight
reduction in the Eastern
harvest and an apparent
slowing in the rate of
harvest decline in the
West.
Pulpwood production tripled from 1952 to 2001,
increasing to about a
quarter of total harvest (pulpwood is used for paper, composite
materials, and similar products). One-third of the total harvest
is used to produce sawlogs; this fraction is down slightly from
1952, despite a 20% increase in harvest for this purpose. Harvest
for all uses other than pulpwood and sawlogs declined in 1996 and
2001 compared to 1986.
See Growth
and Harvest for a discussion of harvest trends on public and private
lands.
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