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Discussion and Conclusions

The forest products industry, comprising the primary and secondary wood products sectors and the pulp and paper sector, contributes to local economies in forested areas in the Southern United States. Although average job dependency (the ratio of forest sector jobs to total employment) was found to be modest, the forest products industry offered good paying jobs in areas where other economic opportunities were limited. (In counties that had forest related employment, average job dependency was 3.0 percent in the pulp and paper sector, 2.0 percent in the primary wood processing sector, 1.6 percent in the secondary wood processing sector, and 4.9 percent in the forest related recreation and tourism sector.) On average, income per job in this industry ranged from marginally higher (in the primary and secondary wood products sectors) to much higher (in the pulp and paper sector) than income per job for the typical source of employment (that is, average income per job over all sectors). By providing good paying jobs, the quality of life was enhanced for people who worked in this industry.

Through the export of wood products to other regions, the forest products industry also contributed to local economies by bringing in income to economies where the forest products industry was located and by contributing to the local tax base. 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 constitute 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 and others 1999), the forest products industry accounted for about 62 percent of employment in basic industries in areas where the pulp and paper industry constituted at least 10 percent of total employment (19 counties). In areas where the primary wood products sector constituted at least 10 percent of total employment (32 counties), the forest products sector accounted for about 54 percent of employment in basic industries. In areas where the secondary wood products sector constituted at least 10 percent of total employment (14 counties), the forest products sector accounted for about 52 percent of employment in basic industries.

However, forests contributed to quality of life in the South in more ways than simply providing income and employment. For many people, enjoyment of the amenities provided by natural forest environments enhanced their quality of life. The list of forest amenities that improved the quality of life in the South include scenic views, opportunities for outdoor recreation, provision of habitat for endangered species and other wildlife, and enhancement of water quality and quantity.

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 communities. It was found that increasing concentrations of jobs in the forest related recreation and tourism sector was associated with increasing proportions of upland hardwood forests, increasing age of forests (that is, they were slower growing), 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, and provide greater levels of forest amenities.

We found that increasing concentration of employment in the forest related recreation sector was 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 sector increased, population growth also increased. This result suggests that people moved to rural areas with more natural forest amenities to improve their quality of life.

Competing demands on southern 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 natural forest amenities. In some areas these trends will intensify the social, political, and ideological tensions related to forest use. And in some areas, quality of life for residents may decline where forests with natural amenity values come under increased pressure for timber harvest and intensified forest management. We suggest that research, education, and public discourse are the primary tools that can help identify and resolve issues related to future forest conditions and uses in the South.