Search this site:

Needs for Additional Research

Additional research is needed to better assess the status and trends of forest management practices in the South. More work also is needed to better assess rotation lengths and particular stand structures (even-aged, two-aged, and uneven-aged). Additional effort is required to better evaluate the impacts of increasing planted pine yields. First, planted pine acreages and management intensities need to be determined. Productivity increases will likely moderate timber price increases and reduce investment incentives. It is necessary to accurately model market adjustments to such changes. In comparison with planted pine, hardwood research in the South has been neglected. Most pressing needs include research into productivity improvements in natural and planted stands from treatments, such as weed management, other silvicultural operations, genetic improvement, and clonal forestry. More research is also needed to determine multiple-use objectives and outcomes of forest management in the South, especially on NIPF land.