AMERICA AND THE WORLD S WOODPILE 



quality suitable for the principal timber needs. These needs have 

 to be met chiefly by the large timber from virgin stands. 



The fact that the old-growth timber is seldom replaced by new 

 growth of a corresponding size and quality serves to speed up the 

 cutting of the remaining virgin forests. Besides the inroads of the 

 lumberman, heavy losses are caused by fires, wind, insects, and various 

 diseases. In the United States, less than one-third of the original 

 stand of nearly 875,000,000,000 cubic feet of softwoods remains. In 

 Canada, fires, cutting, and other agencies have probably made almost 

 as great a reduction in the original stand of large-sized timber. In 





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k . ysTRALlA AND 



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Fig. 2. — Distribution of forest lands by continents 



Europe the bulk of the virgin softwoods was cut long ago, except in 

 Finland and northern Russia and comparatively small areas in 

 the Carpathians and Balkans. The most extensive remaining sup- 

 plies of softwoods are in Siberia and especially in the Russian Far 

 East. 



Throughout the world, there is a growing realization of the im- 

 pending shortage of conifer timber. The industrial countries are 

 becoming concerned regarding future supplies of softwoods, and 

 nearly all are seeking means not only to increase their own produc- 

 tion, but also to gain control of undeveloped supplies or surpluses in 

 other countries. 



