THE OUTLOOK FOR TIMBER SUPPLIES 



123 



SAWTIMBER GROWTH, CUT, AND INVENTORY IN THE 

 ROCKY MOUNTAIN STATES 



NATIONAL FOREST OTHER LANDS TOTAL 



Cut- 



Allowable Cut 



' -if.— /*-'■-*"" 



,** 



•\ 



Net Growth 



Net Growth 



o 

 o 



O 



15 





 500 



400 



300 



200 



100 



Net Growth 







••■■a 





Im 



petitory 





mmmss 



A 









Inventory"^^ 



Inventory' 



1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 



Figure 54 



Sawtimber growth and allowable cut might 

 ultimately be raised to at least three times the 1962 

 level, even after making allowances for possible 

 reductions of timber yields for watershed protec- 

 tion, recreation, and inoperability of some areas. 

 This will take time — a century and more — and 

 considerably more management effort than has 

 been applied so far. Particular emphasis will be 

 needed along several lines if yields are to be 

 increased substantially. These include the follow- 

 ing: 



(1) Greater efforts in assuring prompt regenera- 

 tion of cutover areas with the right species. Also, 

 stand reestablishment on the more productive 

 sites that are now nonstocked or poorly stocked 

 could add to future yields. Basic to such progress 

 in regeneration, as well as other management 

 activities, is an intensification of research to solve 

 critical regeneration problems, particularly in 

 spruce, lodgepole pine, and Douglas-fir types. 



(2) An expansion of thinning and other cul- 

 tural work in young stands where overstocking is 

 a serious problem and the forest will respond to 

 treatment. Failure to maintain proper stand 

 densities and spacing will lengthen rotations and 

 result in many overcrowded stands that produce 

 little or no usable wood. 



(3) Extensive road construction to permit more 

 intensive timber management and closer utiliza- 

 tion of available timber resources. Since many 

 proposed harvesting operations on national forests 

 in this section cannot bear the costs of developing 

 permanent roads, public funds will be necessary 

 to complete a transportation system that will 

 permit multiple-use management of the forest 

 resources. In many areas development of im- 

 proved and low-cost methods of logging also will 

 be necessary to prevent undue damage to soils and 

 watershed values. 



