Looking Ahead 
With its predominance of 
privately owned forest land, 
the South is recognized as 
the Nation’s future leader in 
timber production. Already, 
the finest examples of 
intensive forest management 
come from the South. Forest 
industry lands are generally 
well managed and set 
examples for nonindustrial 
landowners. The South leads 
the Nation in establishing 
forest plantations on private 
lands. Forest industries in 
the region are planting about 
as many acres as other 
private landowners. 
Hardwoods are in good 
supply and will continue to 
be abundant for several 
decades before predicted 
demand approaches growth. 
Pine growth is now ahead of 
harvest southwide. In some 
counties, however, the 
harvest is exceeding growth, 
which results in a reduction 
of the total volume of growing 
stock. 
Natural succession of plants 
replaces pine with hardwoods 
on most sites in the long 
run. If management fails to 
recognize this potential 
problem when pine stands 
are harvested, pine sites are 
often converted by nature to 
hardwood stands, frequently 
of the less desirable species. 
The failure of pine growth to 
exceed harvest in the future 
will rest upon the failure of 
the private landowner to 
properly regenerate pine 
stands after harvest today. 
Also, if Americans want their 
forests for uses other than 
timber, they must provide 
management and protection 
to achieve those objectives. 
Multiple use is mandated by 
law on public lands and 
should be the fundamental 
approach to forest 
management on all 
ownerships. With modest 
adjustments in activities, 
owners can enhance wildlife 
habitat, increase water yields 
if desired, and provide 
recreational opportunities, 
while at the same time 
supplying wood for local and 
industrial needs. The South’s 
forests will continue to be a 
mainstay in the economy, 
both in providing income to 
the forest owner and in 
providing an industrial base 
and employment for the 
region. The potential of 
increasing export markets 
provides additional 
opportunities and strength to 
southern forestry. 
The South is in its present 
favorable position because 
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