The timber supply outlook for the South is more favorable 

 than for any other section of the country. At the present time 

 the South has about half of the annual saw timber growth, but only 

 about one-third of the cut. Thus, there is a healthy surplus. 

 However, the picture is not as bright nationwide and the country 

 will have to turn to the southern resources for more and more of 

 its supply of timber as time goes on. The South's potential and 

 problem are pointed out in the following statement taken from 

 Timber Trends in the United States by the Forest Service of the 

 U.S. Department of Agriculture. 



"Construction of many pulp mills in the South during the past 

 few decades is but a preview of the industrial expansion possible 

 in this section if the forests are effectively managed. The 201 

 million acres of commercial forests have several factors in their 

 favor, chief of which are the rapid growth rates permitting rela- 

 tively short rotations, accessibility for logging, and nearness 

 to principal markets. On the other hand, the South has a major 

 problem in realizing its growth potential in that a high propor- 

 tion of the commercial forest area belongs to small owners, most 

 of whom have shown little interest in intensifying timber manage- 

 ment."* 



As can be seen, the forest industry in the Albemarle Area has 

 considerable potential for growth and development. Even from the 

 date of the first settlements in the area, forestry was one of the 

 main pillars of the economy, and it has continued to be up to the 

 present time. In fact, there is now the promise that the region 

 may serve as more than just a reservoir of lumber and a supplier 

 of untreated and unfinished raw materials. Wood using industries 

 utilizing area resources could open a new era in forestry. 



*Timber Trends in the United States, Forest Service, U.S 

 Department of Agriculture, p. 124. 



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