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Linkages Between Forest Dependency and Forest Amenities

Correlations between employment concentration in forest related industries and indicators of forest amenities are shown in table 12.1. The strength of the correlation is greater as the value of the correlation coefficient approaches 1 or –1. A positive value indicates a positive correlation, and a negative value indicates a negative correlation. Correlation coefficients are only shown for values that were statistically different than zero at the 10-percent significance level. Also shown in the table for each statistically significant correlation coefficient is the number of observations (counties) that were used to compute the statistic.

The pulp and paper industry was located in 179 southern counties. Results shown in table 12.1 indicate that the pulp and paper sector was concentrated in heavily forested areas with higher concentrations of pine acreage, plantation acreage, new plantation acreage, and high pine growth to standing inventory ratios. Taken together, these forest indicators suggest that increasing concentration of the pulp and paper industry was correlated with an increasingly industrialized pine forest. Conversely, the results shown in table 12.1 also indicate that the pulp and paper sector was increasingly scarce in areas with higher concentrations of hardwood acreage, particularly upland hardwoods. However, in hardwood forest areas, this sector was found in increasing concentration in areas where removals of hardwoods relative to their standing inventory were high. Thus, although this sector was scarcer in hardwood forest areas than in pine forest areas, in hardwood forest areas where the pulp and paper industry had become concentrated, there was a corresponding increase in hardwood harvest intensity.

The primary wood products sector was more widespread than the pulp and paper sector and was located in 978 southern counties. Results in table 12.1 indicate that the primary wood products sector was concentrated in heavily forested areas with relatively higher concentrations of pine acreage, plantation acreage, and new plantation acreage. Conversely, this industry was relatively scarce in hardwood areas, particularly in areas with high concentrations of upland hardwoods. However, concentrations of the primary wood products sector were found in areas with relatively extensive acreage in oak-pine forests. Also, within hardwood forests, increasing concentrations of the primary wood products sector were correlated with increases in harvest intensity as well as increasing forest growth rates. In sum, these indicators suggest that increasing concentration of the primary wood products industry was associated with an increasingly industrialized forest, much as was found for the pulp and paper sector.

The secondary wood products sector was located in 872 southern counties. Results in table 12.1 indicate that the secondary wood products sector was concentrated in heavily forested areas, primarily in areas with high proportions of upland hardwood forests. This result is consistent with the importance to this sector of furniture, millwork, wood containers, and pallets and skids, which are primarily based on a hardwood resource.

The forest related recreation and tourism sector (as defined in this chapter) was located in 414 counties. Results in table 12.1 indicate that the forest related recreation and tourism sector was concentrated in areas with high proportions of hardwood forests, particularly upland hardwood forests. Within hardwood forest areas, this sector was more concentrated where forests were growing relatively slowly (indicating they were older) and where harvest pressure was less intense. Within pine forests, this sector was negatively correlated with extensive forest land managed in plantations and with new plantations. Also, within pine forests, this sector was more concentrated in areas with low rates of pine growth (indicating older forests) and with less intense harvest pressure. In sum, these indicators suggest that increasing concentration of the forest related recreation and tourism sector was associated with an increasingly natural forest.