Sustainable Wood Supply

Is there a long-term sustainable supply of American hardwoods?

The 2000 RPA Assessment demonstrates that over the last 50 years, the inventory of hardwoods standing in U.S. forests has doubled as harvesting levels have remained well below the level of growth (Table 1).

Latest data indicates that between 1953 and 2007, the volume of U.S. hardwood growing stock increased from 5,210 million m3 to 11,326 million m3. U.S. Forest Service forecasts indicate that further increases of 15 to 20 percent are expected in the hardwood growing stock inventory through 2030. Projections of hardwood growth and removals nationwide indicate that growth will continue to exceed removals through to 2050.

This rate of growth is being achieved despite high levels of domestic hardwood consumption in the U.S. and the achievement of record levels of hardwood exports.

Table 1: Changes in U.S. hardwood inventory 1953-2002 (million m3)
Million m3	1953	1963	1977	1987	1997	2002
Inventory	5213	6111	7535	8894	9962	10316
Growth	176	201	266	272	289	283
Mortality	34	45	45	54	76	76
Net Annual Growth	142	156	221	218	212	207
Harvested Volume	116	122	119	142	170	167
Excess growth over harvest	25	34	102	76	42	40

Source: 2000 RPA Assessment

The area of hardwood forests in the United States has risen consistently over the last 50 years. Data published as part of the 2000 RPA Assessment shows that the area of hardwood and mixed hardwood/softwood timberlands increased by 18% between 1953 and 1997 (Table 2). In 1997, 92% of the area of stocked hardwood and mixed forests was in the eastern States, and 8% in the western States.

Table 2: Stocked timberland area by major forest type group (Million hectares)
Year	Hardwood & mixed forest types	Softwood forest types	Total stocked timberland
1997	116.7	85.8	202.5
1987	108.6	85.1	193.6
1977	107.0	85.6	192.6
1963	103.3	97.9	201.3
1953	99.1	98.1	197.1

Source: 2000 RPA Assessment