More realistic 

 stratification 

 of tlie 



timber growing 

 base is 

 needed 



The recent acceleration of timber cutting 

 and management on the National Forests has 

 created demands for timber data that describe 

 problems, opportunities, and management 

 needs in a meaningful way. One of the most 

 serious weaknesses of past data was the inade- 

 quate portrayal of the varying degrees of suita- 

 bility and availability of commercial forest land 

 for timber use. Before the costs of different 

 levels of production can be determined, it will 

 be necessary to classify the timber growing base 

 to reflect the degree of suitability and availabil- 

 ity for timber growing. Each of the six Regions 

 and the Washington Office Division of Timber 

 Management has struggled with this problem, 

 but there is still no overall categorization that 

 includes all the significant factors that affect 

 the cost of using forest land for timber produc- 

 tion and the results expected. 



Figure 2 outlines the basic classification for 

 the timber production planning that now ap- 

 pears to be necessary on National Forest land. 

 Total forest area should be subdivided into 

 three broad classes that can in turn be subdivid- 

 ed as necessary. 



1. Nonproductive, nonsuitable, and with- 

 drawn areas. Usually this class is called 

 "noncommercial" and would include: 



• All forest areas that lack the capacity 

 to grow at least 20 cubic feet of tim- 

 ber per acre per year — 20 cubic feet 

 being the established dividing line be- 

 tween "productive" and "non- 

 productive." 



• Productive areas that have been with- 

 drawn from timber use in wilderness 

 areas, primitive areas, etc. 



• Productive areas that have been with- 

 drawn from timber use in multiple use 

 plans. 



• Productive areas that are so steep, un- 

 stable, or rocky that they cannot be 

 used for timber production without 

 serious damage to land or water or 

 other intolerable complications. 



2. Decision deferred 



Areas for which a final decision has 



9 



