Cubic feet per acre 
1200 
900 
1952 1962 1970 1976 1984 
Figure 3.33—Average volume of softwood growing stock 
in pine and mixed pine—hardwood management types in the 
South Central region, 1952-85 
billion cubic feet, or by 12 percent. The decline projected 
on other private land is about 20 percent, and it extends to 
2020. Softwood inventory on forest industry land in the 
South Central region is projected to increase only 10 percent 
above current levels by 2030, which is well below the 69- 
percent increase projected in the Southeast. 
A large, rapid increase in softwood inventory in pine plan- 
tations parallels the projected trends in the Southeast. 
Currently, the inventory of softwood in pine plantations 
accounts for 11 percent of the total. This proportion is 
projected to exceed 50 percent by 2030; it reaches 40 
percent before 2010. 
Trends by State 
Between 1952 and 1985, every State except Virginia 
experienced a large increase in the inventory of softwood 
growing stock (figs. 3.31 and 3.32, app. tables 3.23-3.34 
and 3.37—3.48). In Virginia, a tight growth-removal situation 
over much of the period held the increase down to about 
15 percent, well below that of all other States. In terms of 
volume, the largest buildup in softwood inventory occurred 
in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. 
Between now and 2000, some decrease in softwood 
inventory is projected in every State. The largest declines are 
projected for Texas, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, 
and Arkansas. In Florida, Tennessee, and Oklahoma, the 
projected declines are very small. After 2000, softwood 
inventories are projected to increase again in most States, 
with the largest increases projected for Florida, North 
Carolina, Virginia, and Alabama. 
164 
Recent and Projected Hardwood Timber Supplies 
Hardwood timber is an important resource in the South, both 
to the timber owners and forest industry. Currently, hard- 
woods account for about 33 percent of all timber supplies 
(harvests) from the South each year. In the years ahead, 
this proportion is expected to increase because of (1) large 
buildups in hardwood inventories, (2) changes in the use 
of hardwood timber, and (3) intensifying competition for 
softwood timber and softwood stumpage prices above those 
for hardwoods. 
Southwide Trends 
Between 1952 and 1976, the South supplied from 1.7 billion 
to 1.8 billion cubic feet of hardwood roundwood annually 
(tables 3.19 and 3.20, fig. 3.34). Since 1976, hardwood 
roundwood supplies have gone up 38 percent and currently 
total 2.5 billion cubic feet per year. Hardwood pulpwood, 
little used in 1952, has become the leading hardwood 
product and now accounts for about 40 percent of all hard- 
wood roundwood supplies. Hardwood fuelwood production 
declined from 1952 to 1976, then doubled to cause a sub- 
stantial proportion of the recent increase in total hardwood 
supplies. Hardwood fuelwood now accounts for 27 percent 
of all hardwood supplies. 
Between 1952 and 1970, the proportion of hardwood sup- 
plied by various owners changed very little (fig. 3.34). Other 
private owners supplied 77 percent of hardwood round- 
wood, forest industry 18 percent, and public owners the 
remainder. Because of increasing fuelwood and hardwood 
pulpwood consumption, the situation changed between 1970 
and 1984. Other private owners now supply about 72 
percent of hardwood roundwood, forest industry 22 percent, 
and public owners 6 percent (table 3.19). 
Hardwood supplies are projected to increase 68 percent by 
2020, then decline slightly. By ownership, increases are 
projected to be largest for national forests, other individuals, 
and corporate owners. Hardwood roundwood supplies from 
the farmer ownerships will increase and then decline, 
concomitant with acreage declines. Appendix tables 3.49- 
3.62 show the historic trends in hardwood supplies by 
ownership, along with the projections, by region and State. 
The proportion of hardwood supplies by management type 
has shifted over the years (table 3.20, fig. 3.35). In 1952, 
bottomland hardwoods supplied more hardwood roundwood 
than any other type, 46 percent of the total. Bottomland 
hardwood types still accounted for the most hardwood 
supplies in 1970, but the proportion fell to 40 percent. By 
