Diversity of the Eastern Hardwood Resource and How This Diversity Influences Timber Utilization

Abstract

Abstract The eastern hardwood resource is often associated with high-quality sawtimber used in the production of grade products, but this segment of the resource accounts for approximately 20 percent of the cubic volume of all live trees. By contrast, 17 percent of the hardwood timber volume is classified as cull trees, and an additional 14 percent is low-quality sawlog-size growing stock. The remainder of the resource is midgrade sawtimber-size growing stock and smaller-diameter poletimber. This article first examines definitions and terms useful in understanding the structural component of the hardwood resource and then examines this resource and important hardwood roundwood markets on a regional basis. The quality of hardwood timber varies considerably by region. The East Central and Mid-Atlantic contain lower cull volume on a percentage basis in part because of large quantities of yellow-poplar. The Northern and East Central regions contain the greatest volume of high-quality sawtimber and produce rel...