HIGHLIGHTS 



Area 



• State and private lands account for 10.5 million acres, nearly 41 percent of the total land 

 area in western Montana (fig. 2). 



• Forests occupy 3.7 million acres, including reserved land, 35 percent of the total State and 

 private land area in western Montana. 



• Of the forest land, 3.6 million acres, 98 percent, are classified as commercial timberland. 



National Park 

 Service 2.5% 



Indian Trust lands 

 2.4% 



Figure 2. — Percent of total land 

 area in western Montana by 

 ownership, 1977 (shaded area 

 represents sampled land). 



Forest Industry 8.5% 



• Private ownership accounts for 3.1 million acres, 84 percent of the commercial timberland. 



• Douglas-fir is the predominant forest type on nearly half of the commercial timberland area. 

 Lodgepole pine and ponderosa pine forest types together occupy about 30 percent of the 

 commercial timberland. 



• One-half the commercial timberland is in the SO- to 84-cubic foot productivity class. 



• On the average, the commercial timberland is currently producing only about half its annual 

 potential of 70 cubic feet/acre. 



• About 30 percent of the commercial timberland is in old-growth stands. 



• Stands that are fully stocked occupy about 30 percent of the commercial timberland. 



• Some 46 percent of the commercial timberland is contained in only 3 of the 16 western Montana 

 counties, namely Missoula, Flathead, and Lincoln. 



