While currently not a problem for most of the mills, timber quality and availability were foremost on the minds of those in the industry when asked about future critical issues. Availability of timber is a major concern of the purchasing mills, as much of the hardwood sawtimber is a byproduct of softwood timber harvest, and the softwood harvest is expected to decline. State and federal regulations regarding timber supply as well as environmental issues were the top three overall concerns facing mill-owners. Besides the problem of limited investment dollars and the cost of capital, the issue for many local hardwood producers may become how to procure sufficient timber supply to maintain consistent quality and mill production. These are the main restrictions but there are also opportunities for the hardwood sawmills today.
Red alder represents an under-utilized timber resource.
It is a fast growing species, it has excellent wood characteristics, and it has a growing demand in domestic and international markets. This all contributes to making red alder a potentially important species for forest owners, for sawmills and for secondary manufacturers in the Pacific Northwest.