U.S. Forest ResourceFacts 

and Historical Trends

http://fia.fs.fed.us
Authors

W. Brad Smith

Assoc. National Program Mgr.

Forest Inventory and Analysis

USDA Forest Service

National Offi ce

Arlington, VA

David Darr

Staff Assistant

Resource Valuation and Use

USDA Forest Service

National Offi ce

Arlington, VA

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the following people 

for their review of and contributions to this brochure:

Susan Alexander

Jerry Beatty

Brett Butler

Ken Cordell

Paul Dunn

Curt Flather

Andy Gillespie

Bill Lange

Linda Langner

Alan Lucier

Pat Miles

Nadine Pollock

Ken Skog

Jim Strittholt

Borys Tkacz

John Vissage
Introduction

The 2005 update of the 2000 RPA Assessment is being prepared in response to the mandate in the Forest and Rangeland 

Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, P.L. 93-378, 88 

Stat. 475, as amended (RPA). The update consists of a summary report and supporting documents (available at http://

www.fs.fed.us/pl/rpa/list.htm). Renewable resources in this 

assessment include outdoor recreation, wilderness, timber, 

fi sh and wildlife, water, range, and minerals. This brochure 

reports selected highlights of the fi ndings of the update. 

Much of the data for this brochure is reported regionally as 

North, South, and West.

Need More Depth?

The National Report on Sustainable Forests – 2003 provides 

the most comprehensive account of available data on the 

current condition of the Nation’s forest resources. The report 

is based on 67 indicators for the conservation and sustainable 

management of forests. The indicators were endorsed by the 

United States and 11 other countries that house 90 percent 

of the world’s temperate and boreal forests and 60 percent 

of all forests. This report may be found on the Web at 

http://www.fs.fed.us/research/sustain/.

U.S. Forest Resource Facts and Historical Trends 1

Major reporting regions of the United States for this brochure.

West

South

North
Forest Inventory Data

 

Various attributes of the forest resource are inventoried by 

the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service 

Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program and reported in 

the RPA Assessment and various supporting documents. FIA 

has been conducting fi eld inventories for more than 70 years 

using state-of-the art technology to provide estimates of the 

status, condition, and trends of the Nation’s forests. These 

estimates are critical to the development and implementation 

of policies and practices that support sustainable forestry in 

the United States. Eight national reports based on FIA data 

have been produced since 1953.

Extensive fi eld measurement from FIA inventories includes 

over 4.5 million remote sensing plots interpreted for land use, 

over 125,000 permanent fi eld plots systematically located 

across all forest lands in the United States, over 100 characteristics measured at each plot location, and over 1.5 million 

trees measured to evaluate volume, condition, and vigor.

Other Data

Data for forest ownership and products is from periodic FIA 

forest ownership and forest products studies. Data for wildlife, recreation, health, timber trade, and non wood products 

was derived from USDA Forest Service scientists’ contributions to the National Report on Sustainable Forests – 2003. 

Web sources for this and other related data are found at the 

end of this brochure.

The United States in a Global Context

Global forestry issues are of considerable signifi cance to the 

United States, which has 5 percent of the world population 

and consumes 27 percent of the world’s industrial wood 

products. Although domestic timber inventory is only 8 

percent of the world total, 76 percent of U.S. consumption 

of industrial wood comes from domestic supplies. Other 

competing demands for forest uses are also of interest, such 

as areas protected for biodiversity and relative contributions 

of U.S. forests to carbon pools.

2
Land and Forest Area

It is estimated that in 1630 the area of forest land in the United 

States was just over 1 billion acres or about 46 percent of the total 

land area. By 1907, the area of forest land had declined to an 

estimated 759 million acres or 34 percent of the total land area. 

Forest area has been relatively stable since 1907. In 2002, forest 

land comprised 749 million acres, or 33 percent of the total land 

area of the United States. Since 1630, there has been a net loss of 

297 million acres of forest land, predominantly due to agricultural conversions. Nearly two-thirds of the net conversion to other 

uses occurred in the last half of the 19th century when an average 

of 13 square miles of forest was cleared every day for 50 years.

U.S. Forest Resource Facts and Historical Trends 3

United States as a percent of world totals for selected measures

Timber used for industrial products 27%

Timber inventory 8%

Woody biomass 6%

Protected forest * 9%

Forest land 8%

Land area 7%

Population 5%

* Based on data from the Conservation Biology Institute.

0 5 10 15 20 25 Percent 30

Forest land trends in the United States, 1850-2002

450

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

1850 1870 1890 1907 1938 1963 1987 2002

Million acres

West

South

North
Stable forest area, however, does not mean that there has been 

no change in the character of the forest. There have been 

shifts from agriculture to forests and vice versa. Some forest 

land has been converted to more intensive uses, such as urban. Even where land has remained in forest use, there have 

been changes as forests respond to human manipulation, aging, and other natural processes. The effects of these changes 

are refl ected in the information presented in this brochure.

4

1 In addition to land area of the United States at that time, estimates for 1938 include forest area 

in the regions that would become the States of Alaska and Hawaii. Estimates for 1907 represent 

forest area for regions that would become the States of Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, and New Mexico. 

Estimates for 1630 represent the forest area in North America for regions that would become the 

50 States within the current United States. Source: for 1938: U.S. Congress (1941). Source for 

1907 and 1630: R.S. Kellogg (1909). 

2 Does not include some protected areas. Wildlife management areas in IUCN Category IV and VI 

are most frequently not identifi ed as “reserved” in FIA statistics and total approximately 29 million 

acres. Currently these lands are reported in timber land and other forest land in FIA reports. New 

inventories will provide more accurate data to place these lands in their proper IUCN classifi cation. 

 Land and forest area trends in the United States1 

 Region 

Category Year U.S. North South West 

 Million acres

Land 2002 2,263 413 535 1,315 

 

Of which: Of which: 

 Forest 2002 749 170 215 364 

1997 747 170 214 363 

1987 739 166 211 362 

1977 744 164 217 362 

1963 762 166 228 368 

1953 756 161 226 369 

1938 760 159 221 380 

1907 759 139 236 385 

1630 1,045 298 354 394 

Of which: Of which: 

 Timber land 2002 504 159 203 142 

1997 504 159 201 143 

1987 486 154 197 135 

1977 492 153 200 139 

1963 515 157 209 150 

1953 509 154 205 150 

 

 Reserved 2002 77 8 5 64 

 forest2 1997 52 8 4 40 

1987 48 8 3 37 

1977 35 6 2 27 

1963 27 4 1 22 

1953 26 4 1 21 

 

 Other 2002 168 3 7 158 

 forest 1997 191 3 9 179 

1987 205 3 11 191 

1977 216 5 15 196 

1963 220 5 18 196 

1953 221 3 20 198

 
Reserved Forest (FIA classifi cation)

Reserved forest land has tripled since 1953 and now stands 

at 10 percent of all forest land in the United States. This 

reserved forest area includes State and Federal parks and wilderness areas but does not include conservation easements, 

areas protected by nongovernmental organizations, many 

wildlife management areas, and most urban and community 

parks and reserves. Signifi cant additions to Federal forest 

reserves occurred after the passage of the Wilderness Act in 

1964. See the discussion of protected forest by IUCN [The 

World Conservation Union (formerly International Union for 

Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources)] categories in 

this brochure for more information.

Timber Land and Other Forest Land

Timber land is fairly evenly distributed among the three 

major regions of the United States. Other forest land — such 

as slow-growing forests of spruce in interior Alaska and pinyon-juniper in the interior West — dominates many western 

landscapes and comprises more than one-fourth of all U.S. 

forest land. Reserved forest is most common in the West, 

comprising 11 percent of all forests in that region, while only 

3 percent of eastern forests are in legally set-aside reserves 

such as parks and wilderness. 

U.S. Forest Resource Facts and Historical Trends 5

Trends in reserved forest land by region, 1953-2002

100

80

60

40

20

Million acres

1953 1963 1977 1987 1997 2002

South North West

1 4 1 2 3 4 5

21

4

22

6

27

8

37

8

40

8

64

Forest land by class and region, 2002

Million acres 100 200 300 400

West

South

North

Timber land

Reserved forest

Other forest
Protected Land and Forest

(IUCN Classifi cation)

 

The World Conservation Union (http://www.iucn.org), 

founded in 1948, brings together 78 States, 112 government 

agencies, 735 nongovernmental organizations, 35 affi liates, 

and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries 

and is the world’s oldest and largest global conservation body. 

Its mission is to infl uence, encourage, and assist societies 

throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity 

of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is 

equitable and ecologically sustainable. 

The Conservation Biology Institute (http://www.cbi.org) has 

compiled a spatial database of protected areas in the United 

States, placing total protected land at 154 million acres and 

protected forest at 106 million acres. This compares with 

the 77 million acres of forest that FIA data lists as “reserved.” 

Wildlife management areas in IUCN Category IV and VI are 

most frequently not identifi ed as “reserved” in FIA statistics 

and total approximately 29 million acres. Currently, these 

lands are reported in timber land or other forest land in FIA 

reports. New inventories will provide more accurate data to 

place these lands in their proper IUCN classifi cation.

While the IUCN system is more robust than the FIA “reserved”

classifi cation, one additional diffi culty with IUCN is that each 

block of land is listed within one category. Thus, an area of 

land that contains a scenic river within a wilderness area in 

a national park could fall into categories I, II, and V. Future 

accounting will likely establish a clear hierarchy based on the 

most dominant management regime for the land (i.e., wilderness management objectives would likely have both legal and 

practical precedence over general park land management).

Forest Ownership

Forest ownership patterns in the United States are quite 

diverse, with public forests dominant in the West and private 

forests dominant in the East. Private industrial forest ownership is concentrated in the South, Pacifi c Northwest, upper 

Lake States, and northern New England. 

6
Alaska (not pictured) has 127 million acres of forest that is 72 percent public ownersh Alaska (not pictured) has 127 million acres of forest that is 72 percent public ownership and

Hawaii (not pictured) has 1.7 million acres of forest that is 34 percent public ownership.

 Forest land by owner class in the United States, 2002

Public Forests

Public forests are predominantly owned by the Federal 

Government in the West and State and county governments 

in the East. Seventy-six percent of all public forest acres are 

in the West. Most protected forests are in public ownership, 

while most production forests are in private ownership.

U.S. Forest Resource Facts and Historical Trends 7

Public

Private

Forest ownership in the Western United States

Public 69%

Private 31%

Pattern of Forest Ownership in the United States

Owner class/ Region 

land class U.S. North South West 

 Million acres

National forest 148 12 12 123 

 Timber land 97 10 11 76 

 Reserved forest 29 1 1 26 

 Other forest 23 0 0 23 

Other public 170 30 13 127 

 Timber land 51 23 10 18 23 10 18 

Other public

 Reserved forest 47 6 3 38 

 Other forest 72 1 0 71 

Forest industry 66 15 37 16 

 Timber land 66 15 36 15 15 36 15 

Forest industry

 Reserved forest - - - - 

 Other forest 1 0 - 1 

 

Other private 363 114 152 97 

 Timber land 291 112 146 34 291 112 146 34 

Other private

 Reserved forest 1 0 0 0 

 Other forest 72 2 7 63 

All owners 749 171 214 363 

 Timber land 504 159 203 142 

 Reserved forest 77 8 4 65 

 Other forest 168 3 7 158 
Private Forests

Fifty-seven percent of forest land is in private ownership. 

Forty-four percent is owned by 9.6 million private forest landowners (excluding private corporations), representing a diverse 

group of people with many reasons for owning their forest 

land. Most of this forest is owned as part of a family legacy, for 

the aesthetics that forests provide, and/or for the income that 

can be generated from the sale of the land or forest products. 

The remaining 13 percent of U.S. forests in private ownership 

are held predominantly by partnerships and corporations.

Management and Harvest

There has been a decided shift in timber removals in recent 

years from public lands in the West to private lands in the 

East. As the emphasis on timber production shifts from 

public to private lands, there is an increasing need to have 

information on the management objectives and behaviors of 

the private forest land owners. This information is critical to 

policies promoting sustainable forestry in the United States. 

Recent studies show that only 6 percent of families and individuals that own forest land in the United States have a written management plan. However, these plans cover 16 percent 

of the forest owned by this group of owners.

8 

Management of private forest land in the United States

Individual and family forest land 

with a written management plan

0 5 10 15 20

Individual and family forest land owners 

with a written management plan 6%

16%

Percent

Forest ownership in the Eastern United States

Public 17%

Private 83%
Nonindustrial private forests, those held by individuals and 

families, provided 60 percent of the Nation’s timber harvest in 

2001. A recent survey indicated that two out of three private 

owners have harvested trees from their land. Many of these 

harvests, however, are haphazard and are the consequence of 

a family’s fi nancial needs or trees perceived as being “mature.” 

Fifty percent of landowners hold fewer than 10 acres of forest 

land and collectively control 7 percent of the family forest 

land base. The majority of private forest land is held by 

owners with 100 acres or more of forest land.

Parcelization

The area of forest land in smaller landholdings is increasing, 

resulting in forest parcelization. Changes in the characteristics of family forests, including forest parcelization, often 

occur when land is either sold or inherited. 

 

Currently, 19 percent of the family forest land is owned by 

people who are 75 years or older, and an additional 26 

percent is owned by people between the ages of 65 and 75. 

This relatively advanced age portends the transfer of a 

substantial amount of forest land in the near future. 

Industrial Forests

Forest land owned by corporations with wood processing facilities 

has traditionally been a major source of timber production in the 

United States. In 2002, the forest industry owned 66 million 

acres or 13 percent of the Nation’s 504 million acres of timber 

land but supplied 29 percent of wood production.

U.S. Forest Resource Facts and Historical Trends 9

Trends in private forest area by size of landholding 

in the coterminous United States

Million acres

200

150

100

50

0

1-49 50-499 500+

Parcel size (acres)

1978 1993 2002
In recent years, however, changes in corporate strategies have 

clouded the traditional way of viewing industrial forests. 

Many forest industry companies have divested some or all 

of their forest land holdings in the last 20 years. Some of 

these lands have been acquired by timber investment 

organizations and others have been purchased by family 

and individual ownerships.

Forest Age and Composition

Following intensive logging and regeneration in the late 19th 

century and again in the mid 20th century, 55 percent of the 

Nation’s timber land is less than 50 years old. Six percent is 

more than 175 years old.

The forests of the United States are very diverse in their 

composition and distribution–from the oak-hickory and 

maple-beech-birch forests that dominate the northern portions of the East to the expansive pine forests of the southern 

regions of the East to the majestic Douglas-fi r and ponderosa 

pine forests of the West. In the last 25 years, as the Nation’s 

forests age, there has been a shift away from early seral types 

like aspen and spruce-fi r to mid and late seral types like 

oak-hickory and maple-beech-birch in the East. In the West, 

decades of fi re suppression are reducing areas of ponderosa 

and lodgepole pine.

10

Timber land in the United States by stand age and region, 2002

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

Million acres

Stand age (years)

10 30 50 70 90 125 175 200 

and older

North

South

West
U.S. Forest Resource Facts and Historical Trends 11

Forest type

White-red-jack pine 12.5 12.8

Spruce-fi r 21.1 17.1

Longleaf-slash pine 17.1 15.8

Loblolly-shortleaf pine 50.3 51.8

Oak-pine 35.1 33.7

Oak-hickory, North 50.2 51.9

Oak-hickory, South 73.8 80.3

Oak-gum-cypress 29.2 30.4

Elm-ash-cottonwood 22.1 13.6

Maple-beech-birch 38.7 54.9

Aspen-birch 20.3 17.8

2002

1977

0 30 60 90

Million acres

Forest type trends in the East, 1977 and 2002

Forest type trends in the West, 1977 and 2002

Forest type

Douglas-fi r 38.4 39.6

Ponderosa pine 33.4 31.5

Fir-spruce 29.9 27.1

Hemlock-Sitka spruce 6.8 8.9

Lodgepole pine 21.1 18.4

Pinyon-juniper 47.4 51.7

Hardwoods/Chaparral 35.8 40.5

Other types 23.0 20.0 

2002

1977

0 30 60 90

Million acres
12

Forest Origin

Forests in the United States are predominantly natural stands 

of native species. Planted forest land is most common in the 

East and heavily comprised of planted stands of native pine in 

the South. In the West, planting is generally used to augment 

natural regeneration.

Tree Planting

Forest planting in the United States currently averages about 

2.4 million acres per year. The most dominant planting is 

pine species in the South. Spikes in planting occurred in the 

South in the 1950s as result of the Soil Bank Program and in 

the 1980s as a result of the Conservation Reserve Program, 

which saw planting of nearly 3 million acres of non forest 

land in the South. Western planting has subsided in recent 

years mirroring reduced harvesting in that region.

Origin of forest stands in the United States

0

Percent

20 40 60 80 100

West

East

96% 4%

89% 11%

Natural Planted

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0

1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996

Million acres

West

North

South

 Forest planting in the United States, Forest planting in the United States, 1952-1998
U.S. Forest Resource Facts and Historical Trends 13

Volume Region 

category Year U.S. North South West 

All species Billion cubic feet 

Inventory Inventory 2002 856.1 217.6 268.0 370.5 2002 856.1 217.6 268.0 370.5

1997 835.7 214.3 256.4 365.1 

1987 781.7 190.0 244.6 347.0 

1977 733.1 163.0 223.4 346.7 

1963 665.6 128.3 174.1 363.2 

1953 615.9 103.7 148.5 363.7 

Growth 2001 23.7 5.4 11.5 6.7 

1996 23.5 5.4 10.7 7.4 

1986 22.6 5.5 10.0 7.1 

1976 21.9 5.3 11.3 5.3 

1962 16.7 4.4 8.1 4.2 

1952 13.9 3.7 6.7 3.5 

Removals 2001 16.0 2.9 10.1 3.0 

1996 16.0 2.8 10.2 3.1 

1986 16.0 2.7 8.2 5.0 

1976 14.2 2.5 6.7 5.0 

1962 12.0 2.1 5.5 4.4 

1952 11.9 2.1 5.7 4.1 

Mortality Mortality 2001 6.3 1.7 2.1 2.5 2001 6.3 1.7 2.1 2.5

1996 6.3 1.6 2.2 2.5 

1986 4.6 1.2 1.7 1.7 

1976 4.1 1.1 1.3 1.7 

1962 4.3 0.9 1.2 2.2 

1952 3.9 0.7 1.0 2.2 

Softwoods Softwoods 

 

Inventory Inventory 2002 491.8 49.9 108.0 333.9 2002 491.8 49.9 108.0 333.9

1997 483.9 49.4 104.8 329.6 

1987 467.6 47.6 105.6 314.3 

1977 467.0 43.9 101.2 321.9 

1963 449.8 33.7 75.1 341.0 

1953 431.8 27.1 60.5 344.3 

Growth 2001 13.7 1.2 6.5 6.0 

1996 13.4 1.2 5.9 6.0 

1986 13.0 1.3 5.5 6.3 

1976 12.5 1.6 6.3 6.2 

1962 9.6 1.2 4.7 4.6 

1952 7.7 1.0 3.6 3.7 

Removals 2001 10.1 0.7 6.5 2.9 

1996 10.1 0.7 6.5 2.9 

1986 10.9 0.7 5.3 4.9 

1976 10.0 0.7 4.4 4.9 

1962 7.6 0.5 2.8 4.3 

1952 7.8 0.6 3.1 4.0 

Mortality Mortality 2001 3.6 0.5 0.9 2.2 2001 3.6 0.5 0.9 2.2

1996 3.6 0.5 1.0 2.1 

1986 2.8 0.4 0.8 1.6 

1976 2.5 0.3 0.6 1.5 

1962 2.8 0.3 0.4 2.1 

1952 2.7 0.2 0.3 2.1

Growing stock inventory, growth, removals, and mortality on timber 

land by region and species group in the United States, 1952-2002
Growing Stock Volume

Average growing stock volume per acre continues to rise 

across the United States, with the largest gains in the North 

and South where volumes per acre are nearly double what 

they were in 1953.

14

1953 1977 2002 

3,000

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

Cubic feet per acre

0

North South West U.S.

Volume per acre on timber land

Volume Region 

category Year U.S. North South West 

Hardwoods Billion cubic feet 

Inventory Inventory 2002 364.3 167.8 159.9 36.6 2002 364.3 167.8 159.9 36.6

1997 351.8 164.9 151.5 35.4 

1987 314.1 142.4 139.0 32.6 

1977 266.1 119.2 122.2 24.8 

1963 215.8 94.6 99.0 22.2 

1953 184.1 76.7 88.0 19.4 

Growth 2001 10.0 4.2 5.1 0.7 

1996 10.2 4.3 4.8 1.1 

1986 9.6 4.2 4.5 0.9 

1976 9.4 3.8 5.0 0.6 

1962 7.1 3.2 3.4 0.5 

1952 6.2 2.7 3.0 0.4 

Removals 2001 5.9 2.2 3.6 0.1 

1996 6.0 2.1 3.7 0.1 

1986 5.0 2.0 2.9 0.1 

1976 4.2 1.8 2.2 0.1 

1962 4.3 1.5 2.7 0.1 

1952 4.1 1.5 2.6 0.0 

Mortality Mortality 2001 2.7 1.2 1.2 0.3 2001 2.7 1.2 1.2 0.3

1996 2.7 1.2 1.2 0.3 

1986 1.9 0.9 0.8 0.2 

1976 1.6 0.8 0.6 0.2 

1962 1.6 0.6 0.8 0.1 

1952 1.2 0.5 0.6 0.1

Growing stock inventory, growth, removals, and mortality on timber 

land by region and species group in the United States, 1952-2002

(continued)
Net Growth, Removals, and Mortality Rates 

for Growing Stock

Over the past 50 years, net growth has consistently exceeded 

removals in the United States. Removals remain at about 2 

percent of inventory, while net growth is near 3 percent. Currently, the volume of annual net growth is 32 percent higher 

than the volume of annual removals. Mortality rates have remained well below 1 percent of inventory for at least 50 years.

Timber Product Consumption and Sources

Solidwood and paper products consumed in the United 

States require roundwood harvest in the United States and 

other countries plus recycled paper and solidwood 

products. Domestic roundwood harvest increased from 

1950 through the mid 1980s and has remained steady 

to declining since then.

U.S. Forest Resource Facts and Historical Trends 15

Growth Removals Mortality 3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

Percent of inventory

0.0

1952 1962 1976 1986 1996 2001

Net growth, removals, and mortality of growing stock 

as a percent of inventory

Total and per capita roundwood consumption

25

20

15

10

5

0

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Billion cubic feet

Harvest for domestic use

Imports

Exports

Cubic feet per capita

110

90

70

50

30

10

-10

Per Capita er Capita

Consumption

er Capita 

Consumption

er Capita 
Total domestic roundwood harvest has been stable to declining due to increasing imports and an increase in use of 

recycled paper. With these increases, total consumption of 

solidwood and paper products has also increased steadily 

since 1950.

Drivers of Timber Demand

Demands for the products and services of forests are driven 

largely by population and disposable income. Per capita 

disposable income (constant $1996) more than doubled 

between 1960 and 2000. Total U.S. population increased by 

56 percent during this time.

16

Per capita disposable income and population

$

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Disposable income in thousand dollars

Population in millions

300

250

200

150

Population

Income

Solidwood and paper products consumption and material 

sources with regions of roundwood harvest

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2000

Million dry tons

South

North

West

Recycled Fiber

Imports

Non-wood materials
Imports and Exports

Especially in the 1990s, imports accounted for an increasing 

share of the Nation’s timber supply—reaching 27 percent in 

2002. While most of the imports originated in Canada, there 

were increased shipments from Chile, New Zealand, Finland, 

and other countries during this time. Exports as a percent of 

production peaked at 16 percent in 1991 and generally declined after that point, refl ecting a strong dollar and decreased 

demands in key markets such as Japan. Because of their 

effects on U.S. harvest, both imports and exports affect the 

condition of the domestic forest resource.

Shifting Timber Sources

Recent changes in public land policy have had signifi cant 

impacts on private forests. As harvesting declined on public 

lands in the West, harvesting increased on private lands in the 

East, particularly in the South. Overall, domestic harvesting has remained steady to declining for the past decade and 

increased demand has been supported by increased imports 

and paper recycling.

U.S. Forest Resource Facts and Historical Trends 17

Growing stock removals in the United States by owner group

20

15

10

5

0

1952 1962 1976 1986 1996 2001

Billion cubic feet

Private

Public

Imports as a percent of consumption and exports as a 

percent of industrial wood production

Imports

Exports

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Percent
Harvest Methods and Effi ciency

Selective harvesting is prevalent on 62 percent of harvested 

acres in the United States annually. Clearcutting, used on the 

remaining 38 percent of harvested forest, is most prevalent 

in areas of managed plantations in the South and areas in the 

North where pioneer species such as aspen, jack pine, and 

spruce-fi r–which need open sunlight to regenerate–are being 

managed for timber production. In the West, clear cutting is 

generally followed by planting to augment natural regeneration.

Logging residues are the portions of harvested trees that are 

not utilized and left in the woods after harvest operations. The 

proportion of this material left in the woods declined from 18 

percent of harvested material in 1952 to 10 percent in 2001. 

During this same period, the volume of lower quality, nongrowing stock trees, previously left behind, being harvested 

and utilized for products increased. These two improvements 

in utilization together increased the average volume removed 

from logging sites for products by more than 30 percent, thus 

reducing the total harvest acres needed to produce the same 

amount of products.

18

Partial Cut Clearcut

10

8

6

4

2

0

 North South West U.S. 

Million acres

Average annual harvest area by method

1.7

0.5

3.3 2.7

1.1 0.6

6.1

3.7

25

20

15

10

5

0

 North South West U.S. 

Percent

1952 2001

Logging residues as a percent of harvest

21%

13%

21%

10% 12%

7%

18%

10%
Forest Health

Mortality rates relative to inventory, although currently at the 

highest level in 50 years, remain less than 1 percent of inventory. However, much of the recent increase may be attributed 

to a confl uence of local cyclic effects of forest stressors. It is 

diffi cult to discern if current rates are beyond the range of 

normal variability from a regional or national perspective.

General Health Risk

Areas potentially at risk of 25 percent or higher mortality due 

to insects and disease over the next 15 years are depicted in 

the following graphic.

U.S. Forest Resource Facts and Historical Trends 19

Signifi cant risk to insects and disease mortality

Low risk to insects and disease mortality

1952 1962 1976 6 1986 2001

Percent of inventory

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0

 North South West U.S. 

Mortality as a percent of inventory
Major Forest Insects

Aerial detection surveys provide 

information on the extent of damage caused by major forest pests. 

Some of these pests include–

Southern pine beetle. Activity was 

at historically high levels throughout the last 20 years, refl ecting 

the widespread availability of its 

preferred host, loblolly pine. 

Mountain pine beetle. Activity 

gradually declined throughout the 

period. Massive killing of host trees, 

especially lodgepole pine, greatly 

depleted the availability of suitable 

host trees. 

Spruce budworm. Activity has been 

declining the past 20 years, with 

outbreaks restricted to the Lake 

States. Spruce budworm outbreaks 

are cyclic, with epidemics occurring at 30- to 50-year intervals as a 

new forest grows up from the old 

one killed by the budworm. 

Western spruce budworm. Defoliation peaked from 1983 to 1992. 

Many trees weakened by budworm 

defoliation were subsequently 

killed by bark beetle attacks.

Gypsy moth. Gypsy moths defoliated almost 13 million acres of 

hardwoods in 1980. Defoliation 

has averaged 2.8 million acres annually the past 20 years. Activity 

reached unprecedented levels as it 

spread south and west into better 

habitat; the great reduction in 

recent years appears to refl ect the 

effect of Entomophaga maimaiga 

(a fungal pathogen of the 

Gypsy moth).

20

Southern Pine Beetle

30

24

18

12

6

0

Million acres

1979 1986 1993 2000

Western Spruce Budworm

30

24

18

12

6

0

Million acres

1979 1986 1993 2000

Mountain Pine Beetle

30

24

18

12

6

0

Million acres

1979 1986 1993 2000

Gypsy Moth

30

24

18

12

6

0

Million acres

1979 1986 1993 2000

Spruce Budworm

30

24

18

12

6

0

Million acres

1979 1986 1993 2000
Major Forest Diseases

Dozens of diseases affect U.S. forests each year. The following 

is a list of the ten most commonly found tree diseases in the 

United States:

Disease Primary species affected

Beech bark disease beech

Dutch elm disease American elm

Dogwood anthracnose dogwood

Dwarf mistletoes conifers

Fusiform rust southern pines

Oak wilt eastern oaks

Port-Orford cedar root dis. Port-Orford cedar

Root rots many conifers and hardwoods

Sudden oak death California oaks, tanoak

White pine blister rust 5-needle pines

Air Pollution

Ozone has been shown to alter forest ecosystems in areas of 

high deposition. At high ozone levels, sensitive trees show 

ozone-related injury; while lower ozone levels have been 

shown to reduce photosynthesis of trees — affecting tree 

health. The ozone bioindicator uses a biosite index based on 

the number of species evaluated, the number of plants of each 

species evaluated, the proportion of injured leaves on each 

plant, and the average severity of injury of each plant. Ozoneinduced foliar injury to bioindicator plants occurred more frequently in the Eastern United States from 1997 through 2001.

Oak-hickory forests in the southern Midwest showed the 

highest risk (ozone biosite index of 25 or greater), indicating 

visible injury leading to changes in structure and function of 

the ecosystem. Forests of the mid-Atlantic coastal plain and 

northern Allegheny plateau showed moderate risk (biosite 

index of 15.0 to < 25.0), indicating visible injury to moderately sensitive species. These forests are in areas determined 

U.S. Forest Resource Facts and Historical Trends 21
to have sensitive tree species and relatively high incidence of 

ozone-induced foliar injury. Forests of the southern California mountains and valleys and Sierra Nevada foothills showed 

low risk (biosite index of 5-15), indicating visible injury to 

highly sensitive species. Most forests in the North Central 

and Western United States had an average biosite index of less 

than 5, indicating visible injury to isolated genotypes of sensitive species such as common milkweed and black cherry.

Invasive Species 

Expanding global trade and travel have increased the risk of 

introducing new, exotic organisms. When brought into new 

ecosystems, exotic (invasive) species have no natural enemies 

and, therefore, can cause extensive damage. The biological 

invasion of the continental United States by invasive species 

began with European settlement almost 500 years ago and is 

one of the most important issues in natural resource management. Invasive plant species are defi ned as species being 

moved beyond their natural range or natural zone of potential 

dispersal, including all domesticated species and hybrids. 

The consequences of the introduction of invasive species have 

major ecological and economic implications and may directly 

affect human health. One of the major effects of invasive species on biodiversity may be the outright loss of native species. 

There are an estimated 3,723 plants with species of origin 

outside the United States. Areas with the highest rates of 

introduction tend to be along the coasts or major inland waterways. In general, human disruptions of natural communities, such as by soil alterations, removal of vegetative cover, or 

suppression of natural disturbance regimes, seem to promote 

opportunities for invasive species.

22

Invasive species in the United States

4000

3000

2000

1000

0

Number of species 

Plants

Plant pathogens

Insects and arachnids

Fish, mollusks, vertabrates

3,723

200

2,000

300
U.S. Forest Resource Facts and Historical Trends 23

Net forest carbon stock change during 2001

-400 -300 -200 -100 0 0 100

North

South

Soil and forest fl oor

Down dead wood

Trees and understory

Wood products

Landfi lled wood

West

Million metric tons CO2 eq./yr Note: negative value corresponds to storage by forests. Note: negative value corresponds to storage by forests. Million metric tons CO2 eq./yr

Forest Carbon Forest Carbon orest Carbon

Concern over consequences of increasing greenhouse gas Concern over consequences of increasing greenhouse gas oncern over consequences of increasing greenhouse gas

concentrations in the atmosphere has led the United States to 

develop an annual inventory of greenhouse gas sources and 

sinks since 1990. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

prepares the offi cial inventory for all sources to comply with 

commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. USDA agencies, including the Forest 

Service, provide the inventory for the agriculture and forestry 

sectors. In 2001, gross greenhouse gas emissions in the United States were equivalent to 6,936 million metric tons (15.3 

trillion pounds) of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2 eq. ). 

Forests take in CO2 and water, store carbon in wood, and 

release oxygen. The carbon stored in forests is released back into 

the atmosphere when trees are burned such as in forest fi res 

or when dead trees and leaves decay. Forest management can 

affect greatly the amount of carbon stored; vigorously growing 

forests store more carbon than slow-growing ones. When trees 

are made into lumber or paper, some CO2 is released, but much 

continues to be stored in the products or eventually in landfi lls. 

Substituting wood for nonrenewable materials can also reduce 

CO2 in the atmosphere by reducing fossil fuel energy use.

Invasive insects and pathogens threaten many 

forests throughout the United States
In 2001, a net 759 million metric tons (1.7 trillion pounds) 

of CO2 eq. were removed from the atmosphere and stored 

in forests and forest products in the 48 conterminous States. 

This offsets about 11 percent of gross U.S. CO2 emissions from 

all sources. An additional 185 million metric tons (407 million 

pounds) of CO2 eq. were stored by forests and then harvested 

from forests and burned for energy as a substitute for burning 

fossil fuels, resulting in a net change of zero to the atmosphere. 

Wildland Fire

Fire Condition Classes

Condition classes are a function of the degree of departure 

from historical fi re regimes resulting in alterations of key 

ecosystem components such as species composition, structural 

stage, stand age, and canopy closure. Some of the activities 

that may cause this departure: fi re exclusion, timber harvesting, grazing, introduction, and establishment of exotic plant 

species, insects, and disease (introduced or native), or other 

past management activities. Three general condition classes are 

identifi ed based on fi re regimes relative to historic range, ecosystem stability relative to intact functioning components, fi re 

frequency relative to historic range, and vegetation attributes 

(species composition and structure) relative to historic range.

Current fi re regime condition classes

24

Condition 

class

3

2

1

Fire 

regime Ecosystem 

stability stability

Ecosystem Historic fi re 

frequency Vegetation 

attributes attributes Vegetation 

Near normal High Within one 

interval

Within historic 

range

Moderately 

altered Moderate Departure of more than one interval

Moderately altered 

from historic range from historic range

Moderately altered 

Signifi cantly 

altered altered

Signifi cantly Low Departure of 

multiple intervals

Signifi cantly 

altered from altered from

Signifi cantly 

historic range
Fuel Reduction

Years of fi re suppression and other management practices 

have resulted in increased undergrowth and tree density 

(both live and dead), creating high fuel levels that have in 

turn brought high-intensity fi res that threatened property, 

natural resources, and the public. In response to the risks 

posed by heavy fuel loads, the National Fire Plan (NFP) was 

established to provide a long-term program of hazardous fuels 

reduction on Federal and adjacent lands. The NFP emphasizes cooperation and collaboration among Federal agencies; 

State, local, and tribal governments; and other stakeholders 

to achieve the fuels reduction goals and objectives. These 

objectives are outlined in a 10-Year Comprehensive Strategy (http://www.fi replan.gov/content/overview). Reducing 

hazardous fuels lessens the risk to humans, important landscapes, and municipal watersheds, as well as improving forest 

and rangeland health.

Fire at the Wildland-Urban Interface

Wildland urban-interface communities exist wherever 

homes and businesses are built among trees, brush, and 

other fl ammable vegetation. Historically, aggressive and 

effective wildfi re suppression has resulted in increased 

undergrowth and density of trees, creating high levels of 

fuels. In these conditions, fi res can move rapidly into the 

interface areas. A key element in reducing threats to these 

wildland-urban interface areas and restoring fi re to its natural role in the environment is community education and 

involvement. The USDA Forest Service and the Department of the Interior agencies, in partnership with the State 

foresters, administer a variety of programs that address 

living with fi re in the wildland-urban interface.

U.S. Forest Resource Facts and Historical Trends 25

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

Year

Million acres

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2002

Annual area of wildland fi re in the United States, 1960-2002
Water Supplies

In the conterminous 48 States, about 18 percent of the Nation’s 

water supply originates on forests managed by the USDA Forest 

Service. About 51 percent of water supplies originates on forested 

land, 14 percent on range lands, and 24 percent on agricultural 

lands. The remaining 11 percent is split between water/wetland 

and other. Lands managed by the USDA Forest Service account 

for 27 percent of the water originating on forest land and 19 

percent of the water originating on range land.

Water Uses

Estimates of water use in the United States indicate that about 408 

billion gallons per day were withdrawn for all uses during 2000. 

This total has varied less than 3 percent since 1985 as withdrawals 

have stabilized for the two largest uses — thermoelectric power 

and irrigation. About 48 percent of all withdrawals in 2000 were 

used for thermoelectric power and 34 percent for irrigation.

Water supplies by point of origin

1000

800

600

400

200

0

Billion cubic feet

National Forest lands Other lands 

Forest 712/260Rangeland 211/50Agriculture 450/6Water/Wetland 123/10Other 82/16

All 1,578/342

Water withdrawals for off-stream use by type of use Billion cubic feet

500

450

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Irrigation Thermoelectric Other industrial Rural domestic and livestock Domestic and public

26
Watershed Management

Water quality is becoming an increasingly serious concern in 

the United States, as well as globally. High-quality watersheds 

trap sediments; slow runoff; and provide cooling shade and 

excellent habitat for wildlife, fi sh, and plants. Potential watershed management issues include habitat loss and fragmentation, hydrologic alterations, nutrient enrichment of surface 

waters, and pathogens and toxins. Forests offer signifi cant 

mitigation opportunities for water management. 

Effective watershed management must be based on a planning process that integrates both scientifi c analysis and 

public participation. To explore current efforts in watershed 

management, visit http://www.partnershipresourcecenter.

org/watersheds/index.php.

Drought

Another aspect of water is the lack of it. Many forests have recently experienced fi res of unprecedented intensity and extent, 

and this is partially the result of forest management practices 

that have allowed decades of dead wood (fuels) to accumulate. 

This has been exacerbated by climate variability in the form 

of prolonged periods of drought that have left forests in tinder 

dry conditions, and thus more susceptible to intense fi res. 

Public resource agencies are shifting their fi re policies from 

complete suppression to recognition that fi re is an integral 

component of the landscape. Presuppression forests experienced fi res more frequently, but these fi res were less destructive. These less intense fi res served as a means of keeping fuels 

from accumulating on the forest fl oor and maintaining low 

stand density. As shown in the composite Palmer Drought 

Index, much of the West is in a medium to high drought stage, 

and patchy areas of the East are also at heightened risk.

Palmer Drought Severity Index 1985-1995

U.S. Forest Resource Facts and Historical Trends 27
Forest Wildlife

Geographic variation in the number of forest-associated 

species occurring within ecoregions for all taxa

Species Richness

A count of species is a basic and easily understood measure 

of biological diversity. The species richness graphic above 

shows where diversity is relatively high or relatively low based 

on the geographic range of species and their intersection with 

ecoregional boundaries. In this regard, it should be considered a baseline condition or expectation of the number and 

composition of species within each ecoregion. Long-term 

monitoring data are required if trends in species richness are 

to be estimated. The South has the majority of high-richness 

areas. The only taxonomic groups with high-richness areas in 

all regions are mammals and birds.

Wildlife Trends

Favorable indicators of wildlife habitat include relatively 

stable forest land area and enrollment of land in the Conservation Reserve Program, increases in both population and 

harvests of many big game species, and increases in populations of 75 percent of all breeding birds monitored. 

Unfavorable indicators of wildlife habitat include some forest 

type conversions, conversion of wetlands in the South, and 

declines in small game populations and harvests for species 

associated with grassland and early successional habitats.

Additionally, the rate at which species have been listed as 

threatened and endangered has increased with concentrations of these species along coastal areas, the arid Southwest, 

and the northern Appalachians.

28
Forest Recreation 

Nationally, of the total 749 million acres of forest land, nearly 640 

million acres (85 percent) is available for outdoor recreation to the 

entire public or persons selected by private owners. However, free 

access to private lands has been declining in recent years. As the 

population and their demand for natural resources continues to 

grow, this trend may become a more serious concern.

Participation in many recreation activities increased faster than 

population, with many of the largest percentage changes being for land-resource-based activities. Ninety-four percent of 

individuals aged 16 or older participated in outdoor recreation 

activities between 1980 and 2002. During this same period, the 

population aged 16 and older increased by 12 percent. 

U.S. Forest Resource Facts and Historical Trends 29

100

80

60

40

20

0

Public Private

 North South West U.S. 

Percent

Availability of forest land for recreation activities

75% 81%

99%

68%

99%

80%

99% 99%

Growth in U.S. population and outdoor recreation activities, 

1982-2002

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Population aged 16 and over 

Participation in outdoor sports 

and spectator activities

Participation in snow- and ice-based activities

Participation in water-based activities

Participation in land-based activities

Percent

12%

27%

24%

18%

12%
30

Outdoor recreation is a fast-growing use of forests in the 

United States, continuing a steady trend since the 1950s. Currently, over 90 percent of Americans participate in at least one 

outdoor recreation activity. Growth in many of these activities 

points to a rapid increase in trail, motorized, camping, and 

skiing forest uses. Rising demand and declining per capita 

area of forest available for recreation is expected to increase 

confl icts between different user interests.

Urban Infl uence on Forests

Today there are an estimated 3.8 billion trees in urban areas, 

which have an average tree cover of 27 percent. Urban 

forests are signifi cant and diverse, and as landscapes become 

fragmented and more urbanized, more forests will be managed by urban residents and institutions. Urban areas (cities, 

towns, or villages with at least 2,500 people) currently occupy 

3.5 percent of the total land area in the United States, double 

the area found in 1969. As people seek more opportunities 

for forest recreation closer to home, the pressures and use 

confl icts of forests near urban areas are expected to increase.

Trends in popular outdoor recreation opportunities 

in the United States

2000

1980

 Snowmobiling 5.3 / 7.1

 Backpacking 8.8 / 15.2

 Downhill skiing 10.6 / 16.8

 Off-road driving 19.4 / 27.9

 Primitive camping 17.7 / 28.0

 Developed area camping 30.0 / 41.5

Hiking 24.7 / 47.8

 Bird watching 21.2 / 54.1

Swimming 56.5 / 78.1

Picnicking 84.8 / 98.3

Sightseeing 81.3 / 113.4

Walking 93.6 / 133.7

Participation (millions) 0 50 100 150
U.S. Forest Resource Facts and Historical Trends 31

Forest land in counties with urban centers over 20,000 persons

Forest land in counties with urban centers of 2,500 to 20,000 persons

Forest land in counties with no urban center greater than 2,500 persons

250

200

150

100

50

0

 East West 

Million acres

Forest land in the United States by urban population infl uence

80.1

128.4

80.9

173.9

79.4

202.3

Nontimber Forest Products 

Gathering nontimber forest products is a signifi cant use of the 

Nation’s forests that affects forest ecosystems. These products

include medicinals, food and forage species, fl oral and 

horticultural species, resins and oils, art and craft species, 

game animals, and fur bearers. Harvest of these products 

from forest ecosystems is a signifi cant and very important 

activity for many Americans, for recreational, commercial, 

subsistence, and cultural uses. 

Medicinals — Medicinals — The use of medicinal plants has experienced The use of medicinal plants has experienced

an expansion in the past 20 years, exceeding that of any 

other nontimber native fl ora. Medicinal herbal products and 

plants are a big business in the United States, with demand 

prompting protective measures for some species.

Food and forage species — Foods from native species 

provide a very small share of the food species consumed 

by Americans, but are often culturally signifi cant. Forage 

grass species are particularly important to Federal and private 

land management.

Floral and horticultural species — Native plants used 

for decorating homes and workplaces are as diverse as the 

decorative forms invented, and harvests have a strongly 

regional character.
32

Resins and oils — Products derived from native plant species 

fall into several broad categories. Industrial chemists use 

aromatic plant compounds in air fresheners, bath products, 

diffusers, hair- and skin-care products, inhalants, massage 

oils, perfumes, and food fl avoring. A few native species have 

a long tradition of commercial uses as fragrances and have 

international markets. 

Arts and crafts — Arts and crafts — Arts and crafts are an integral part of Arts and crafts are an integral part of

innumerable traditions from Native American use of bark, 

willow, and branches in baskets, masks, and traditional and 

ceremonial dress; to doll-making and baskets in the Appalachians; to furniture, birdhouses, bowls, and other well-known 

and admired Shaker products. 

Game animals and fur bearers — This category includes big 

game (primarily large mammal species), small game (rabbits, 

squirrels, etc.), migratory game birds (ducks, geese, etc.), 

and furbearers (fox, raccoon, beaver, etc.). Trends indicate 

a likely increase in species that tolerate intensive land use 

activities, such as those associated with agricultural habitats 

and decreases in species associated with grasslands and early 

successional stages of forest habitats; and general declines in 

species dependent on wetlands. Generally, big game hunting 

is increasing, small game hunting is declining, migratory bird 

hunting may be increasing after 20 years of decline, and fur 

harvests declined sharply from 1980 to 1990. 

In general, harvest of nontimber forest products is largely 

undocumented, particularly on private forest lands. It is 

understood, however, that any harvesting of these products 

may impact forest ecosystems. 
U.S. Forest Resource Facts and Historical Trends 33

Web Resources

USDA Forest Service

 http://www.fs.fed.us

Forest Inventory and Analysis

 http://fi a.fs.fed.us

Forest Health

 http://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/

 http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/fhm/index.htm

Fire

 http://www.nfi c.gov

 http://www.fuelman.gov

Forest Ownership

 http://www.fs.fed.us /ne/studies/NWOS/main.html

Forest Products

 http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us

Forest Wildlife

 http://www.fws.gov

Global Forest Information 

 http://www.fao.org/forestry

National Assessments of Forests

 http://www.fs.fed.us/pl/rpa/list.htm

National Report on Sustainable Forests

 http://www.fs.fed.us/research/sustain

Nontimber Forest Products

 http://www.sfp.forprod.vt.edu

 http://www.fao.org/forestry/site/6367/en

 http://ifcae.org/ntfp

Protected Areas

 http://www.IUCN.org

 http://www.cbi.org

Recreation/Wilderness

 http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/trends

 http;//www.fs.fed.us/recreation

Water Resources

 http://water.usgs.gov/watuse

 http://www.partnershipresourcecenter.org/watersheds/index.php

 http://drought.unl.edu
34

Terms

Forest land — Land at least 10 percent stocked by forest trees 

of any size, including land that formerly had such tree cover 

and that will be naturally or artifi cially regenerated. The 

minimum area for classifi cation of forest land is 1 acre. 

Growing stock volume — Live trees on timber land of commercial species meeting specifi ed standards of quality and 

vigor. Cull trees are excluded. Includes only trees 5 inches 

in diameter or larger at 4.5 feet above ground. 

Growth (Net Annual ) — The net increase in the volume of 

growing stock trees during a specifi ed year. Components 

include the increment in net volume of trees at the beginning 

of the specifi c year surviving to its end, plus the net volume of 

trees reaching the minimum size class during the year, minus 

the volume of trees that died during the year, and minus the 

net volume of trees that became cull trees during the year. 

Hardwood — A dicotyledonous tree, usually broad-leaved 

and deciduous. 

IUCN Protection Categories — The World Conservation 

Union protected area classifi cations are:

Category I is defi ned as (a) an area of land and/or sea possessing some outstanding or representative ecosystems, geological or physiological features and/or 

species, or available primarily for scientifi c research and or environmental monitoring, or (b) a large area of unmodifi ed or slightly modifi ed land and/or sea, 

retaining its natural character and infl uence, without permanent or signifi cant 

habitation, that is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural condition. 

Category II land is a natural area of land and/or sea designated to (a) protect the 

ecological integrity of one or more ecosystems for present and future generations, 

(b) exclude exploitation or occupation inimical to the purposes of designation of the 

area, and (c) provide a foundation for spiritual, educational, recreational, and visitor 

opportunities, all of which must be environmentally and culturally comparable. 

Category III land is an area containing one, or more, specifi c natural or 

natural/cultural feature that is of outstanding or unique value because of its 

inherent rarity, representative or aesthetic qualities, or cultural signifi cance. 

Category IV Category IV is an area of land and/or sea subject to active intervention for is an area of land and/orsea subject to active intervention for

management purposes so as to ensure the maintenance of habitats and/or to 

meet the requirements of specifi c species. 

Category V is area of land with coast and sea as appropriate, where the interaction of people and nature over time has produced an area of distinct character 

with signifi cant aesthetic, ecological, and/or cultural value, and often with high 

biological diversity. Safeguarding the integrity of this traditional interaction is 

vital to the protection, maintenance, and evolution of such an area. 

Category VI is an area containing predominantly unmodifi ed natural 

systems, managed to ensure long- term protection and maintenance of biological 

diversity, while providing at the same time a sustainable fl ow of natural products 

and services to meet community needs.
U.S. Forest Resource Facts and Historical Trends 35

Logging residues — The unused portions of growing-stock 

trees cut or killed by logging and left in the woods. 

Mortality — The volume of sound wood in growing stock 

trees that died from natural causes during a specifi ed year.

National forest — An ownership class of Federal lands, 

designated by Executive order or statute as national forests or 

purchase units, and other lands under the administration of 

the USDA Forest Service.

Other Federal — An ownership class of Federal lands other 

than those administered by the Forest Service. Primarily 

lands owned by the Bureau of Land Management, National 

Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Departments of Energy and Defense.

Other forest land — Forest land other than timber land and 

reserved forest land. It includes available land that is incapable of producing annually at least 20 cubic feet per acre of 

industrial wood under natural conditions because of adverse 

site conditions such as sterile soils, dry climate, poor drainage, high elevation, steepness, or rockiness. 

Removals — The net volume of growing stock trees removed 

from the inventory during a specifi ed year by harvesting, cultural 

operations such as timber stand improvement, or land clearing.

Reserved forest land — Forest land withdrawn from timber utilization through statute, administrative regulation, or designation. 

Does not include all land in IUCN protection categories. 

Roundwood products — Logs, bolts, and other round timber 

generated from harvesting trees for industrial or consumer use. 

Softwood — A coniferous tree, usually evergreen, having 

needles or scale-like leaves. 

Timber land — Timber land — Forest land that is capable of producing crops Forest land that is capable of producing crops

of industrial wood and not withdrawn from timber utilization 

by statute or administrative regulation. (Note: Areas qualifying 

as timber land are capable of producing in excess of 20 cubic 

feet per acre per year of industrial wood in natural stands.)
36

References

Birch, Thomas W., Lewis, D.G., and Kaiser, H. 1982. The 

private forest-land owners of the United States. Resour. Bull. 

WO-1. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service. 64 p.

Brooks, David J. 1993. U.S. forest in a global context. Gen. 

Tech. Rep. RM-228. Fort Collins, CO: USDA Forest Service, 

Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 24 p.

Brown, Thomas C. 1999. Past and future freshwater use in 

the United States: A technical document supporting the 2000 

USDA Forest Service RPA assessment. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRSGTR-39. Fort Collins, CO: USDA Forest Service, Rocky 

Mountain Research Station. 47 p.

Cordell, H. Ken. Principal Investigator. 1999. Outdoor recreation in American life: A national assessment of demand and 

supply trends. Sagamore Publishing, Champaign, IL. 449 p. 

Coulston, J.W.; Ambrose, M.J.; Riitters, K.H.; Conkling, B.L.; 

Smith, W.D. In Review. 2003 Forest Health Monitoring national 

technical report. Gen Tech. Rep. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station.

Dwyer, John F.; Nowak, David J.; Noble, Mary H.; Sisinni, 

Susan M. 2000. Connecting people with ecosystems in the 

21st century: an assessment of our nation’s urban forests. 

Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-490. Portland, OR: USDA Forest 

Service, Pacifi c Northwest Research Station. 483p.

Flather, Curtis H.; Brady, Stephen J.; Knowles, Michael S. 1999. 

Wildlife resource trends in the United States: A technical document supporting the 2000 USDA Forest service RPA Assessment. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-33. Fort Collins, CO: USDA 

Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 79 p.

Smith, W. Brad; Vissage, John; Sheffi eld, Raymond; Darr, David. 2001. Forest Resources of the United States, 1997. Gen. 

Tech. Rep. NC-219. St. Paul, MN: USDA Forest Service North 

Central Forest Experiment Station. 190p
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and 

activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, 

sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program 

information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 

(202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To fi le a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Offi ce of Civil Rights, Room 326-W,

Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 

(202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Smith, W. Brad; Miles, Patrick D.; Vissage, John S.; Pugh, 

Scott A. 2004. Forest Resources of the United States, 2002. 

Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-241. St. Paul, MN: USDA North Central 

Forest Experiment Station. 118p.

U.S. Bureau of the Census. 1991. Statistical Abstract of 

the United States (11th edition). Washington, DC: U.S. 

Department of Commerce.

U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2004. In press. U.S. agriculture and forestry greenhouse gas inventory. Technical Bulletin 

No. 1907. Washington, DC: Global Change Program Offi ce, 

Offi ce of the Chief Economist.

USDA Forest Service. 1958. Timber resources for America’s 

future. Forest Resource Report No. 14. Washington, DC: 

USDA Forest Service. 713p.

USDA Forest Service. 1965. Timber trends in the United 

States. Forest Resource Report No. 17. Washington, DC: 

USDA Forest Service. 235p.

USDA Forest Service. 1982. An analysis of the timber situation in the United States, 1952-2030. Forest Resources Report 

No. 23. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service. 499 p.

USDA Forest Service. 2003. Forest insect and disease conditions in the United States, 2002. Forest Health Protection 

Report. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service. 124 p.

Waddell, Karen L.; Oswald, Daniel D.; Powell, Douglas S. 

1989. Forest statistics of the United States, 1987. Resour. Bull. 

PNW-RB-168. Portland, OR: USDA Forest Service Pacifi c 

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U.S. Forest Resource Facts and Historical Trends 37
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FOREST SERVICE

FS-801 

September 2004

This publication supersedes FS-696, 

U.S. Forest Facts and Historical Trends.