believe are necessary to assure ample timber supplies for the future. 
Various aspects of the reappraisal are covered more fully in a series of 
separate reports, some of which have already been published. 
The report shows that the Nation’s saw-timber supply is declining 
and, of equal significance, its quality is deteriorating. Saw-timber cut 
plus losses from natural causes exceeds annual growth by 50 percent. 
Yet indications are that the intrinsic needs of the Nation for saw- 
timber products are considerably greater than present cut. Whether we 
are in for a permanent timber shortage or whether we shall have plenty 
of timber depends largely on what we do now. We have enough forest 
land. The challenge is to grow the timber. 
A crop of wood cannot be grown in a single year like a crop of corn. 
Tomorrow’s wood supply is in the trees growing in the forests today. 
Our forest growing stock, therefore, must be large enough so that as one 
year’s crop is harvested, enough trees will be coming of age to provide 
the next year’s crop. It is my hope that publication of this report will 
help spur the Nation to prompt, forceful, and comprehensive action to 
build up and maintain the forest resources so as to insure their maximum 
contribution to lasting prosperity for our country. 
So es 
Chief, Forest Service. 
