Preface 



Most decisions on the management of forest and 

 range lands and the associated waters have long- 

 term impacts on renewable resources and, in a 

 broader sense, on the economy, the society, and the 

 natural environment. As a matter of common sense, 

 it is desirable to base these decisions on factual and 

 objective analyses of the present and prospective 

 renewable resource situation. 



The need for such analyses has long been recog- 

 nized by Congress and by others interested in the 

 administration, management, and use of the Nation's 

 forest lands. Congressional interest was first ex- 

 pressed in the Appropriations Act of August 15, 

 1876, which appropriated $2,000 for the employment 

 of an expert to study and report upon forest condi- 

 tions.' Other Congressional directives followed for 

 forestry or timber studies on an as-needed basis. In 

 1927 the McSweeney-McNary Act directed the Secre- 

 tary of Agriculture to assess, on a continuing basis, 

 the forest situation in the United States. ^ The assess- 

 ment provision of this Act was amended and broad- 

 ened to include rangelands^ by the Renewable Re- 

 sources Planning Act of 1974 as amended by the 

 National Forest Management Act of 1976. Under 

 this legislation, the Secretary of Agriculture is 

 directed to:'* 



". . . prepare a Renewable Resource Assess- 

 ment . . . the Assessment shall be prepared 

 not later than December 31, 1975, and shall 

 be updated during 1979 and each tenth 

 year thereafter, and shall include but not be 

 hmited to: 



(1) An analysis of present and antici- 

 pated uses, demand for, and supply of the 

 renewable resources of forest, range, and 

 other associated lands with consideration 

 of the international resource situation, and 

 an emphasis of pertinent supply and de- 

 mand and price relationship trends; 



I Hough, Franklin B., Report upon forestry. U.S. Gov. Print. 

 Office, Washington; Vol. I, 650 p., 1978; vol. II, 618 p. 1880; Vol. 

 Ill, 318 p., 1882. 



2 Section 9 of this Act authorized and directed the Secretary of 

 Agriculture to cooperate with States, private owners, and other 

 agencies ". . . in making and keeping current a comprehensive 

 survey of the present and prospective requirements from timber 

 and other forest products in the United States, and potential pro- 

 ductivity of forested land therein and of such other facts as may 

 be necessary in the determination of ways and means to balance 

 the timber budget of the United States." 



3 Congressional interest in an assessment of the range situation 

 was first expressed in 1934. This resulted in the preparation of the 

 first range assessment — U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

 Service. The western range. A report to the Senate. S. Doc. No. 

 199, 74th Cong., 2nd Sess. 620 p. 1936. 



"Section 3(a)(1) and (2), SecUon 3(c) and SecUon 5(5)(E). 



(2) An inventory, based on information 

 developed by the Forest Service and other 

 Federal Agencies, of present and potential 

 renewable resources, and an evaluation of 

 opportunities for improving their yield of 

 tangible and intangible goods and ser- 

 vices . . . , 



(3) A discussion of important policy con- 

 siderations, laws, regulations, and other fac- 

 tors expected to influence and affect signifi- 

 cantly the use, ownership, and management 

 of forest, range, and other associated lands." 



In accordance with the provisions of the legisla- 

 tion, this Assessment presents an analysis of the 

 present situation and the outlook for outdoor recre- 

 ation and wilderness, wildlife and fish, forest-range 

 grazing, timber, and water. It includes information 

 on: 



• Trends in use and prices of major products of 

 forest and range lands and inland waters, such 

 as timber, forage, water, outdoor recreation 

 and wilderness, wildlife, and fish. 



• International trade in timber and range prod- 

 ucts and the timber resources of important 

 trading countries. 



• Long-run projections of demand for major 

 products. 



• The extent, location, ownership, condition, 

 and productivity of the Nation's 1.7 billion 

 acres of forest and range lands and associated 

 inland waters. 



• The uses of the forest and range lands and 

 inland waters including use for designated pur- 

 poses such as parks, refuges, wildernesses, and 

 mines. 



• Recent changes in the area, ownership, use, and 

 productivity of forest and range lands and 

 inland waters. 



• The capacity of forest and range lands and the 

 associated inland waters to meet projected de- 

 mands for renewable resource products. 



• Economic, social, and environmental implica- 

 tions of the relationship between longrun pro- 

 jections of demands and supplies. 



• Opportunities for increasing and extending sup- 

 plies of major products beyond the levels at- 

 tainable with present programs, with analysis 

 of the related economic, social, and environ- 

 mental impacts. 



• Potential resource interactions resulting from 

 changes in the management of forest and range 

 lands. 



• The discussion of important policy considera- 



