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THE OUTLOOK FOR TIMBER IN THE UNITED STATES 



• Forest fertilization. — Experience to date also 

 indicates that forest fertilization will be a 

 practical way to increase timber growth and 

 yields in many situations. 



• Improvements in technology. — Continuing re- 

 search to provide new knowledge is of large 

 importance in improving management of 

 forest lands for timber production while 

 assuring balanced output of both timber and 

 other forest goods and services such as recre- 

 ation, water, and wildlife. 



Such measures to increase timber growth and 

 harvests will require substantial public and private 

 investments. Large expenditures also will be 

 needed to provide the plant and equipment 

 necessary to extend timber supplies by improved 



utilization in the harvesting, processing, and use of 

 timber products. 



Potential imbalances between rising demands 

 for timber and available supplies are part of a 

 worldwide problem of assuring adequate raw 

 materials for housing and a multitude of other 

 uses and products. A shift from timber to greater 

 dependence on substitute materials is possible, 

 but entails problems of cost, pollution impacts, 

 dependence on foreign suppliers, and additional 

 balance of payments problems. Increasing timber 

 supplies from domestic forests, while assuring a 

 balance with other uses and environmental pro- 

 tection, is an alternative that is technically and 

 economically feasible even though time and sub- 

 stantial expenditures will be necessary. The 

 outlook for timber is thus a matter of far-reaching 

 public and private concern. 



