Foreword 



This Assessment, the second comprehensive study 

 of the renewable resources of forest and range land 

 and the associated waters, has been prepared in 

 response to provisions of the Forest and Rangeland 

 Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 as 

 amended by the National Forest Management Act 

 of 1976. It shows that the Nation's demands for 

 outdoor recreation, wildlife and fish, range grazing, 

 timber, and water have been growing rapidly. It also 

 shows that, in response to increases in population, 

 economic activity, and income, demands for these 

 products will continue to rise in the decades ahead. 



Although projected growth in demand differs for 

 the various products, the increases are much above 

 the levels that can be supplied with present manage- 

 ment programs and existing physical facilities. Thus, 

 we are faced with a future of intensifying competi- 

 tion for the available suppHes of renewable resource 

 products, and the resulting and adverse impacts on 

 the economy, the natural environment, and the gen- 

 eral quahty of life. 



This outlook can be changed. There are many 

 opportunities on the 1.7 billion acres of forest and 

 range land and associated waters to increase and 

 extend supplies of nearly all renewable resource 

 products. For example, these lands and waters have 

 the physical capacity to supply sites for most types 

 of outdoor recreation well in excess of expected 

 increases in demand and to support much larger 

 numbers of most species of wildlife and fish. Under 

 intensive management, the forest and range lands 

 have the capability of producing nearly three times 

 the volume of forage and in time more than twice 

 the volume of timber grown today. 



With proper management, the increased levels of 

 output can be maintained for the benefit of future 

 generations. In appraising the need for action, this is 

 a major consideration. In the long run, with growing 

 pressure on the environment and nonrenewable 

 stocks of ores and fuels, renewable resources will 

 surely become increasingly important to our econ- 

 omy and society. 



4i>)^ 



R. Max Peterson 

 Chief 



