The major change in the source of the projected softwood 
supplies by forest management type is a continuing shift from 
natural stands to pine plantations. By the year 2000, annual 
softwood supplies from pine plantations are projected to 
increase to 2.5 billion cubic feet, which would be 43 per- 
cent of the total. To the extent that wood properties of the 
plantation trees differ from those of trees grown in natural 
stands, this shift could be significant. Appendix tables 
3.35-3.48 show historic trends and State allocations of the 
projections of softwood supplies by forest management 
type. 
Beyond 2000, the base projections point toward some further 
increase in softwood supplies to 6.6 billion cubic feet in 
2020. There is little change, however, between 2020 and 
2030. The prospective shift in source from natural stands 
to pine plantations continues. By 2030, pine plantations are 
projected to provide 65 percent of total supplies. 
Trends in the Southeast 
In 1952, timber supplies, (harvests) in the Southeast were 
just under 1.8 billion cubic feet of softwood roundwood. 
Sawlogs accounted for more than half of this volume. 
Although the total number of sawmills in the Southeast had 
begun to decline, the annual production of softwood lumber 
in the region was averaging about 5.0 billion board feet. 
Several thousand small portable sawmills produced a very 
large share of the lumber in the region. Pulpwood supplies 
had surpassed fuelwood and were increasing very rapidly. 
Pulp and paper companies were constructing new mills 
throughout most of the region. Other private forest lands 
provided about 78 percent of all softwood supplies (app. 
table 3.21). About 96 percent of all softwood timber sup- 
plies came from natural pine stands (app. table 3.35). 
By 1962, softwood roundwood supplies in the Southeast had 
declined to just over 1.5 billion cubic feet per year. Al- 
though the annual production of round softwood pulpwood 
had increased from 7 million to more than 10 million 
cords, the annual production of softwood lumber in the 
region had dropped from 5.0 billion to 2.7 billion board 
feet. In some areas of the region, pulpwood surpassed 
sawlogs as the leading timber product. The number of saw- 
mills decreased dramatically as small portable mills went out 
of production. There was little change in the sources of 
softwood supplies from 1952. Other private land still 
provided about 76 percent, and 95 percent of all softwood 
roundwood supplies still came from natural pine stands. 
By 1970, the decline in softwood supplies had been 
reversed, and annual output was back up to 1.7 billion cubic 
feet. The annual production of round softwood pulpwood 
exceeded 13 million cords. Softwood pulpwood supplies 
were more than double softwood sawlog supplies. 
However, the lumber industry was being rapidly 
modernized, and lumber production in the region had also 
turned upward. Fewer but more efficient sawmills had 
replaced a large number of the older mills. Many of the new 
sawmills had chipping headrigs, which convert portions of 
each log to chips as the log is first broken down for lumber. 
The pine plywood industry established in the region in the 
early sixties continued to expand, and the pine peeler log 
was becoming a major product. Although other private land 
remained the primary source of softwood supplies, its share 
dropped to 65 percent. Timberland owned and leased by 
forest industries was now supplying 29 percent of the soft- 
wood roundwood. The portion of softwood roundwood from 
natural pine stands had dropped to 88 percent. 
By 1976, softwood roundwood supplies from the Southeast 
had climbed to 2.1 billion cubic feet. Although the long 
upward trend in the annual production of round softwood 
pulpwood had begun to level off somewhat, softwood pulp- 
wood remained the region’s leading timber product. The 
rapid expansion of the pulp and paper industry in the 
Southeast began to slow. Softwood plant byproducts and 
hardwood provided a larger share of the pulp furnish. 
Softwood sawlog supplies increased to feed the recovery of 
the region’s softwood lumber industry. The region also 
experienced an almost threefold increase in the output of 
softwood veneer logs between 1970 and 1976. 
By ownership, other private land provided 63 percent of 
the softwood supplies in 1976, while forest industry provided 
30 percent from its own land. The remaining 7 percent 
came from public land. The portion of softwood roundwood 
from natural pine stands declined to 74 percent as pine 
plantations and mixed pine—hardwood stands began to pro- 
vide more of the annual harvest. Georgia was the leading 
source of softwood timber in the region and provided 39 
percent of the total (fig. 3.19). 
In 1984, softwood roundwood supplies in the Southeast were 
close to 2.5 billion cubic feet, an increase of 63 percent 
since 1962. However, softwood supplies have leveled off at 
least partially in response to an increase in the import of 
softwood timber products from Canada. 
The rapid increase in softwood supplies from the Southeast 
over the past two decades is projected to slow down. 
Projected supplies in 2000 are 14 percent above current 
supplies. By 2020, softwood supplies are projected to 
137), 
