Assessing Timber Availability in Upland Hardwood Forests

Abstract

Abstract Reported forest inventory statistics gathered by the USDA Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station, Forest Inventory and Analysis (SOFIA) have been criticized because not all of the inventory volume reported is truly available for harvest. In response to this criticism, a procedure has been developed for assessing timber availability from reported inventory statistics for upland hardwood forests. The procedure uses forest inventory and ownership statistics gathered by SOFIA, a stump-to-mill cost prediction model developed by the USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, and published wood price reports. Under the specific assumptions and conditions set forth in a demonstration of the procedure, a quarter of Tennessee's reported upland hardwood forest, containing about 40% of the reported inventory volume, was estimated to be available for harvest. The usefulness of the procedure in assessing available timber supplies for individual mills was also demonstrated. South. J. Appl. For. 16(2):82-88.