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6 Discussion and Conclusions

The forest products industry, comprised of the primary and secondary wood products sectors and the pulp and paper sector, is a critical component of the economic structure in many areas in the Southern United States. This industry offers good paying jobs in areas where other economic opportunities are limited. On average, income per job in this industry ranges from marginally higher (in the primary wood products and secondary wood products sectors) to much higher than income per job for the "typical" source of employment. By providing good-paying jobs, the quality of life was enhanced for people who worked in this industry. In addition, for some people who worked in this industry, quality of life was enhanced by a "way of life" associated with working either in the woods or producing the products made from harvested timber. And, of course, quality of life was enhanced for everyone who consumed products made from wood, ranging from paper products to fuelwood to fine furniture.

Through the export of wood products to other regions, the forest products industry also contributed to local economies by bringing income to economies where the forest products industry was located. Some understanding of the contribution this industry made to local economies can be gained by considering the economic base in areas where the primary and secondary wood products sectors and the pulp and paper sector comprised at least 10 percent of total employment. Using the standard assumption that agriculture, mining, nonwood manufacturing, and the forest products industry make up the economic base (Crone, Haynes and Reyna 1999), the forest products industry accounts for about 62 percent of employment in basic industries in areas where the pulp and paper industry comprises at least 10 percent of total employment. In areas where the primary wood products sector comprises at least 10 percent of total employment, the forest products sector accounts for about 54 percent of employment in basic industries. In areas where the secondary wood products sector comprises at least 10 percent of total employment, the forest products sector accounts for about 52 percent of employment in basic industries.

However, forests contribute to quality of life in the South in more ways than by providing income and employment. For many people, enjoyment of the amenities provided by natural forest environments enhances their quality of life. One way of evaluating the contribution of forest amenities to quality of life is to consider some of the characteristics associated with forest-related recreation and tourism (which was constrained to rural areas with a greater-than-average proportion of forest land). It was found that increasing concentrations of jobs in the forest related recreation and tourism sector is associated with increasing proportions of upland hardwood forests, increasing age of forests, decreasing timber harvesting pressure, and decreasing proportion of forest acreage in pine plantations. In general, these forest areas can be considered to be more "natural" in the sense that they have received less human-induced disturbance.

We found that increasing concentration of employment in the forest related recreation and employment sector is associated with better economic conditions (higher median household income and lower rates of poverty and unemployment). We also found that as the concentration of employment in the forest-related recreation and employment sector increases, population growth also increases. This result suggests that people moved to such rural areas to enjoy the quality of life afforded there, including the amenities provided by the natural environment.

Competing uses of forests will likely increase as timber production intensifies in the South due to the region's competitive advantage in timber growing and as people continue to move to locations in the South that provide high levels of natural forest amenities. In some areas, these trends will intensify the social and ideological tension related to forest use. For example, we found that, in areas of concentrated employment in the forest products industry, the condition of forests more nearly represented an "industrial forest". That is, forests were more likely to contain higher proportions of pine plantations, to be younger and these forests received greater harvesting pressure. If areas where people live because of the amenities provided by natural environments come under increased pressure for timber harvest and intensified forest management, such people will suffer a loss in amenity value. As economists would say, they will suffer a loss in "real income". Such losses, including those of intrinsic values will be suffered by present and future generations.

Increasing concentrations of employment in the forest-related recreation and tourism sector are negatively associated with concentration of employment in the primary wood products sector. This result summarizes in some sense the social and ideological tension that exists between proponents of these two patterns of forestland use. On the one hand, it is clear that timber growing, timber harvest, wood products processing and the final consumption of wood products contribute to quality of life. On the other hand, the amenity values associated with forests likewise contribute to the quality of life. We suggest that research, education, and public discourse are the primary tools that can help identify and resolve issues related to future conditions and uses of forestland in the South.