The Forest Survey 



THE war has emphasized the fact that timber is one of the indispensable resources of 

 the United States. Even in normal times 10 million people draw at least part of their 

 livelihood from harvesting, transporting, manufacturing, and distributing forest 

 products. War requirements far outweigh those of peace. 



One-third of the Nation's productive land is available for and suited to the growing of 

 timber. Maintenance of timber supplies on this vast area for future needs is both a public 

 and private responsibility. This involves long-time planning and ample and reliable knowl- 

 edge of forest conditions and forest-products requirements. Authentic facts must be 

 gathered as to the location and condition of existing and prospective forests and forest' 

 lands, depletion and growth, and present and probable future requirements for forest pro- 

 ducts. With a view to obtaining such facts, Congress by the McSweeney-McNary Forest 

 Research Act of May 22, 1928, authorized the Nation-wide Forest Survey. 



The fivefold purpose of the survey is: (1) To determine the extent, location, and con- 

 dition of forest lands, and species, quantity, and quality of timber on these lands; (2) to 

 ascertain the current and probable future productivity of forest areas; (3) to determine the 

 quantity of timber cut for industrial and domestic uses, and the losses from fire, insects, 

 disease, suppression, and other causes; (4) to ascertain the present and probable future 

 trend in requirements for forest products by all classes of consumers; and (5) to interpret 

 these findings and correlate them with other economic factors as a basis for formulating 

 public and private policies for effective and rational use and management of land suitable 

 for forest production. 



The rapidly changing economic and social conditions incident to the war have increased 

 the need for publishing the facts already gathered and the conclusions to which they lead. 

 Results of the Forest Survey are published in a series of reports that aim to supply general 

 information for a long-time program of planning for timber production. Other values of 

 forest land, such as grazing and watershed protection, are not covered by this study. 



The information presented here is applicable to South Carolina and to large units 

 within the State; it furnishes the background for intensive studies of critical situations, but 

 it may not correctly reflect conditions in subdivisions as small as counties. Also, the recom- 

 mendations made here presuppose normal peacetime conditions. Hence any that are not 

 in keeping with war requirements are obviously in abeyance for the present. 



All phases of this investigation except the requirements study — which is handled on a 

 national basis from Washington, with the assistance of the forest experiment stations and 

 the Forest Products Laboratory — are conducted in their respective regions by the experi- 

 ment stations of the Forest Service. The South Carolina survey was made by the Appa- 

 lachian Forest Experiment Station with headquarters at Asheville, N. C. 



Raymond D. Garver, 



Director, Forest Survey. 



