(3) Projections show demands for forest 

 and range products rising faster 

 than supplies 



Projections based on expected increases in popula- 

 tion, economic activity, and income show that the 

 demands on forest and range lands and the associated 

 waters for outdoor recreation, wildlife, forage, tim- 

 ber, and water are likely to continue to grow rapidly 

 in the decades ahead. However, as indicated in figure 

 1, there are differences in the amount of the increase. 



Despite the differences, the projected growth in de- 

 mand is substantial for all products. On the other 

 hand, and as schematically illustrated in figure 2, the 

 capacity to meet these demands, assuming a contin- 

 uation of recent trends in investments in forest and 

 range land and water programs and facilities, shows 

 slower increases. Thus, the Nation is faced with a 

 growing imbalance between supply and the quantity 

 of forest, range, and water products that people 

 would like to consume. 



This outlook has some important and adverse eco- 

 nomic, social, and environmental implications. For 

 example, the projected imbalance between demand 

 and supply for timber means that the Nation is faced 

 with the prospect of rapid and continuing increases in 

 the prices of stumpage (standing timber) and timber 

 products, relative to the general price level and to 

 prices of most competing materials. This, in turn, 

 means that the economy must depend to an increas- 

 ing degree on imports of timber products and substi- 

 tute materials. It also means increased cost to consum- 

 ers of products such as houses and furniture made 

 wholly or in part from wood; rising environmental 

 costs resulting from the mining, industrial processing, 

 and power generation associated with the increased 

 use of substitute materials, and an acceleration in the 

 rate of use of nonrenewable resources. 



The outlook for forage and water is similar in 

 many respects — higher costs to consumers with the 

 associated impacts on the economy, the environment, 

 and the society. 



For users of wildlife, fish, and outdoor recreation 

 resources, it will mean intensifying competition for 

 the available resources. This may well lead to shrink- 

 ing populations of wildlife and fish and a more re- 

 stricted distribution; fewer and less satisfying outdoor 

 recreation opportunities for such activities as camp- 

 ing, hunting, birdwatching, and wilderness camping; 

 and overall, a gradual deterioration in the quality of 

 life which the Nation has come to appreciate and 

 expect. 



Projected Demand Increases for 

 Selected Products 



Demand Index (Medium Level) 



1975-77 Base Years = 100 



100 150 200 250 300 350 



Product 



Downhill 

 Skiing 



Timber 



Dispersed 

 Camping 



Freshwater 

 Fishing 



Waterfowl 

 Hunting 



Water 

 Consumption 



M 



Hiking 



Range 

 Grazing 



^ — ^l.^.-s-.-'^-— — , 



Demand in 2000 

 Demand in 2030 



IX 



