Current softwood supplies in the South Central region 
average 2.6 billion cubic feet per year. The proportion 
supplied by the various owner groups has been stable since 
1976. Supplies from all management types continue to 
increase, but pine plantations now account for 10 percent of 
all softwood supplies. 
Softwood supplies from the South Central region are 
projected to increase 17 percent by 2000 and 36 percent by 
2030, when they amount to 3.5 billion cubic feet. Increases 
from forest industry land, where softwood supplies rise by 
60 percent, account for most of the additional supply. 
Prospective softwood supplies from other private land 
increase 12 percent by 2030 and then decline slightly. By 
2030, forest industry land is projected to provide 46 
percent of the softwood supplies, compared to about 39 
percent in 1984. 
In the South Central region, more of the projected soft- 
wood supplies come from public timberland than in the 
Southeast. For example, softwood supplies from national 
forests in the South Central region more than double 
between now and 2030. Altogether, public lands will 
provide about 10 percent of the total softwood supplies from 
the South Central region. 
By 2000, pine plantations will provide about 37 percent of 
the softwood supplies and by 2030, 63 percent. Softwood 
supplies from natural pine decline rapidly between now and 
2000, from 59 percent of the total to 38 percent. By that 
time, conversion of most of the suitable natural pine stands 
to planted pine will have taken place. Softwood supplies 
from mixed pine—hardwood stands are projected to drop 
sharply after 2000. 
Trends by State 
In 1952, Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama, and South 
Carolina were the leading State suppliers of softwood 
roundwood. Collectively, they provided 55 percent of the 
region’s total (app. tables 3.23—3.34 and 3.37-3.48). 
Between 1952 and 1976, Georgia and Alabama retained their 
leading positions, but there was considerable shift from east 
to west in the sources of softwood supplies. Mississippi and 
Louisiana surpassed North and South Carolina as leading 
suppliers. During this period, there were also large increases 
in softwood supplies from Texas and Arkansas. 
Between 1976 and 1984, the largest increases occurred in 
Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, as the shift from east to 
west reversed. In 1984, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, 
and Louisiana were the leading State suppliers and provided 
54 percent of the total. 
Between now and 2000, most of the increase in softwood 
supplies is projected to occur in Florida, Arkansas, and 
Louisiana. By 2000, softwood supplies from these three 
States combined are projected to exceed their combined 1984 
output by about 35 percent. In each of these States, net 
annual growth of softwood exceeded annual removals by 15 
percent or more as of 1984. In Arkansas and Louisiana the 
percent of the softwood inventory in sawtimber stands is 
significantly higher than the regional average. In Florida, 
there are extensive acreages of pine plantations that will be 
available for harvest between now and 2000. 
Large percentage increases in softwood supplies are 
projected for Oklahoma and Tennessee; however, the actual 
quantities are smaller than those in the three States men- 
tioned. The prospective increase in softwood supplies from 
Virginia is also somewhat higher than the regional average, 
and a 13-percent increase is projected for North Carolina. 
In the other five States—Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, 
South Carolina, and Texas—very small increases in soft- 
wood supplies are projected between now and 2000. Recent 
forest surveys show either a softwood growth deficit or a 
very tight growth-removal situation in each of these States. 
In most, recent trends reflect the rapid liquidation of large 
inventories of pine timber that developed on idle agricultural 
land between about 1945 and 1965. Beyond 2000, softwood 
supplies are again projected to increase in most of these 
States. 
14] 
