softwood inventories are projected to decline by 21 percent 
between now and 2010. The base projections indicate the 
overall inventory of softwood will climb back to 101 billion 
cubic feet by 2030, a volume close to current levels. On 
other private land, the inventory is 51 billion cubic feet by 
2030, 19 percent below current levels. 
A 21-fold increase in the inventory of softwood in pine 
plantations has accounted for almost 30 percent of the 
buildup in softwood inventory since 1952 (fig. 3.28, table 
3.16). Furthermore, the increase in softwood inventories in 
pine plantations continues. Since 1977, the inventory of 
softwood in natural pine, mixed pine—hardwood, and upland 
hardwood stands has either leveled off or started to decrease. 
The inventory of softwood continues to increase in bottom- 
land hardwood stands, but a large share of this volume is 
cypress (fig. 3.28). 
More and more of the inventory of softwood timber will 
be in pine plantations. Currently, pine plantations account 
for 13 percent of the softwood inventory; by 2000, this 
proportion will be between 30 and 35 percent; by the end 
of the projection period, this proportion exceeds 50 percent. 
Shortly after the turn of the century, the softwood inventory 
in pine plantations will exceed that in natural pine stands. 
Small-diameter trees are characteristic of the southern 
softwood timber resource. Although there has been some 
recent movement toward the larger diameter trees in the 
volume distribution by tree size, well over 40 percent of the 
softwood inventory is still in 6-, 8-, and 10-inch trees (fig. 
3.29). The 10-inch class accounts for the largest portion of 
the softwood volume, reflecting the fact that many pines 
in the region are cut for pulpwood by the time they reach 
this size. 
As the softwood inventory shifts from natural pine to pine 
plantations, timber users will have to adjust to changing tree 
characteristics. For example, plantation-grown softwoods 
reach merchantable size at a younger age, and consequently 
a higher proportion of the wood in each tree has juvenile 
qualities. Shorter rotations may accentuate this shift. 
One single species, loblolly pine, accounts for 47 percent of 
the softwood inventory in the region and is the species 
most widely used in intensive management (fig. 3.30). In 
terms of volume, shortleaf pine is the second-leading 
species but now accounts for less than 19 percent of the 
total. The volume of shortleaf pine has been declining 
rapidly over much of its range for a number of years. Slash 
pine is the only other species that accounts for more than 
10 percent of the softwood inventory. Slash pine has been 
158 
the leading species in plantations in parts of the southern 
Coastal Plain. 
Trends in the Southeast 
Since 1952, the inventory of softwood growing stock in the 
Southeast has increased from 33.8 billion to 50.5 billion 
cubic feet, or by almost 50 percent (app. tables 3.21 and 
3.35). Most of this buildup in inventory occurred in the 
1960’s and 1970’s, when net annual growth greatly exceeded 
annual removals. In recent years, the increase in the inven- 
tory of softwood growing stock has leveled off. Between 
1977 and 1985, the increase was less than 4 percent when 
all ownerships are included. On other private land, softwood 
inventories declined slightly during this period. 
In 1985, 65 percent of the softwood growing stock occurred 
on other private land, 23 percent was on land owned or leased 
by forest industry, and the remaining 12 percent on public 
timberland. On other private land, a large share of the softwood 
inventory is in pine and mixed pine—hardwood stands between 
20 and 40 years old. In this ownership class, these age classes 
account for more than 40 percent of all the pine and mixed 
pine—hardwood stands. Because fewer than 30 percent of the 
pine and mixed pine—hardwood stands on other private land 
are 20 years and younger, a substantial decline in the inventory 
of softwood on this ownership is likely to occur if past 
harvesting trends continue. 
The southern softwood timber resource is 
characterized by small-diameter trees. The 
10-inch diameter class accounts for the 
largest portion of softwood volume, and 
well over 40 percent of the inventory is in 
that size class or smaller. Pulp mills, 
sawmills, and other wood-manufacturing 
industries are equipped to use small- 
diameter softwood timber efficiently. 
