Overview of the Importance of the Forest Resource 
Approximately 40 percent of the timberland in the United 
States is located in the South. This area includes the States 
of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and 
Florida in the Southeast region and the States of Tennessee, 
Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and 
Texas in the South Central region (frontispiece). The term 
‘‘timberland’’ refers to forested land that is capable of pro- 
ducing at least 20 cubic feet of wood per acre annually and 
that has not been withdrawn from utilization for timber by 
law or administrative regulation. In many Southern States, 
timberland covers over 50 percent of the land area. 
In 1976, the latest year for which comparable nationwide 
data are available, the South supported over 20 percent of 
the softwood growing stock and over 40 percent of the 
hardwood growing stock in the United States (USDA Forest 
Service 1982). This inventory accounted for half of the 
net annual growth for both softwoods and hardwoods nation- 
wide. Net annual growth is affected by both timberland area 
and the growth and mortality of individual trees. The 
favorable position of the South compared to other regions, 
particularly for softwood growth, reflects its extensive area 
of productive timberland and its relatively young stock of 
growing trees. 
The diversity of its timber resource has made the South a 
major producer of virtually all forest products. In 1984, the 
12 Southern States accounted for one-third of the soft- 
wood lumber and over two-fifths of the hardwood lumber 
produced nationally. These States also accounted for close 
to half of national production of hardwood and softwood 
plywood and two-thirds of the woodpulp (USDC Bureau 
of the Census 1985). 
Southern forests provide many benefits in addition to timber. 
They play a vital role in the social, cultural, and economic 
life of the people in the South. In 1985, they produced 
nearly 8 million tons of forage for domestic livestock and 
wildlife. They protect watersheds on over half the land area 
in the South, and are the source of water for much of the 
domestic and industrial use. They provide habitat for nearly 
all wildlife and fish species. They also provide sites for rec- 
reation for tens of millions of people. For example, accord- 
ing to the 1985 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and 
Wildlife-Associated Recreation (USDI Fish and Wildlife 
Service and USDC Bureau of the Census unpubl.), over 70 
percent of the population in the South (16 years of age and 
older) participate in wildlife-related activities such as 
observing, photographing, or feeding wildlife. Nearly 
one-third of the population engage in hunting or fishing. A 
substantial proportion of these activities occurs on 
timberland. 
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In fiscal year 1986, the value of activities such as hunting, 
fishing, nature study, camping, picnicking, hiking, water 
sports, and other recreational activities on national forest 
lands in the South was estimated to be over $124 million. 
These lands represent only 6 percent of the total timberland 
area in the South. Millions of acres of forest industry and 
other private timberland are also being managed for wild- 
life and profitably leased for hunting. The fish and wildlife, 
forage, water, and recreation benefits associated with timber- 
land are also important to State and local economies. For 
example, hunters and fishermen spend money in local 
communities for food, lodging, transportation, and fees for 
access to hunting and fishing areas. In 1980, approximately 
$750 million was spent on these items in the 12 Southern 
States by hunters of forest-related species such as deer, 
wild turkey, raccoon, and squirrel (USDI Fish and Wildlife 
Service and USDC Bureau of the Census 1982). Another 
$85 million was expended by trout fishermen, who depend 
on the cold-water streams commonly found on timberland. 
These figures do not include the substantial amounts spent 
by sporting enthusiasts for numerous other items ranging 
from specialized equipment to magazine subscriptions. 
Of all the benefits associated with forests, however, timber 
is usually considered the most important in economic 
terms. Timber generates income and employment through- 
out the South’s economy, not only in jobs directly related 
to timber management, harvesting, and processing of pri- 
mary wood products but also in the manufacture of all prod- 
ucts containing wood or wood fiber, and in wholesale and 
retail trade, transportation, and construction. Virtually ev- 
ery household and business comes into daily contact with 
timber products in building materials, furniture, cabinets, 
paper, containers and boxes, and thousands of other things 
made in whole or in part from wood. 
For producers and consumers in the South, timber output 
from southern forests has important implications for local, 
State, and regional economies. Because the South is a ma- 
jor producer of timber products, changes in its timber out- 
put have implications for the national economy as well. 
