III.  Timber Markets and Forest Management

The Southern Forest Resource Assessment will address a set of questions regarding the sustainability of the South’s forests.  This page contains a list of questions that are now proposed to organize the analysis in the Timber Markets and Forest Management category. These questions address broad issues so to provide additional detail, we include specific points that will be addressed as each question is answered. At the end of the page are links to the other broad categories.

To the left of each question is a "what you said" link taking you to the public inputs submitted about the earlier version of that question.

	1. What are the history, status and projected future demands for and supplies of wood products in the South? Evaluate supply and demand for specific species groups and commodity classes. Examine the effects of population growth and land use change on timber supply—e.g., with more people, how is the “availability” of timber different? Evaluate the linkages to international markets and consider implications of increasing exports. Address the impacts of changing management intensity and productivity on supply and the resulting composition of forests. Evaluate market linkages with other parts of the United States. Address how changing technology and the emergence of new products (change in product mix) could affect all markets.
	2.  What are the status and trends of forest management practices in the South? Examine the impact of federal incentive programs for forestry on management practices. Examine status and trends of forest management for each ownership class. Compare the production/productivity implications of various management intensities.
	3.  How might existing and new technologies influence timber harvesting and resultant conditions of forests? The evaluation of technologies should address: harvesting and processing technologies, and genetic engineering. Describe how technology changes influence productivity, management choices (including rotation length), and resulting forest conditions. What are the environmental implications of changes in harvest technologies? Address the accessibility of technologies to various forest ownership groups.
	4.  What is the history of forest management and how do management approaches differ across forest ownership groups? Examine the dynamics of ownership.  How have ownership patterns changed?  Recognize the great variety of ownership types in the South. Include consideration of new forest investment groups as an ownership group. Describe the multiple-use intentions and outcomes of forest management on private lands. Recognize all approaches to management including "no active management."

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Other Broad Categories:

	I.	Landscapes/Terrestrial Ecosystems
	II.	Social/Economic Factors
	IV.	Forest Extent, Conditions, and Health
	V.	Watersheds, Aquatic/Riparian Ecosystems, and Forested Wetlands

Proposed Questions | Assessment Home | SRS Home