Redwood supply: fact & fiction

By Chrbtopher Gnover Exec. v.p. & gen. mgr. Califomia Redwood Association

fAM always surprised at the myths Ithat surround redwood lumber supply issues.

For instance, Dean Johnson, Homctintc television series hosL who is savvy not only about home improvement but also fesoufce issues, 0old me thU when they use redwood on their show, they receive hundreds of calls. Clearly, in spite of our efforts, many people think redwood, Sequoia sempemirens, is an endangered species.

For decades, the California Redwood Association and its member mills have been worting to separa0e redwood fact from fiction. It's obvious we need your help in relating the truth to the public. Here are some upto-the-minute facts about redwood forests and redwood timb€r supply:

Redwood is the nation's fastest growing commercial softwood (Fig. l). It is capable of growing more than twice as fast as western red cedar. Redwood even outstrips "fast-growing" southern pine species.

Unlike most western timber species, redwood production comes almost entirely from private timberlands. Most of these lands are owned by redwood lumber companies and are zoned specifically for timber production. So redwood harvests are not dependent upon the uncertainties of public timber supply. Sound forestry and sound business practices mandate tbat timberlands must be rapidly replanted so that vigorous new stands are established after harvesting.

California has the strictest forest practice laws in the country.

Over the past two de cade s, redwood production has averaged about 900 million board feet per year (Fig. 2). The California Timber Supply model developed at the University of Californi4 Berkeley, indicates that an average annual sus0ainable barvest of I billion board feet is achievable in the Redwood Region.

The most likely scenario generated by this model shows that the harvest on all private timberlands will remain relatively stable over the next 25-35 years and then increase sharply as young growth stands come into full production (Fig. 3). Dramatic inoeases in production on some CRA member lands are predicted within the next 10-15 years. Increases in harvest

Story at a Glance

How retailers can help redwood producers educate customers on availability of redwood ... growth rate 3 x harvest ... ample supplies.

are also expected on non-industrial private timberlands where growth is currently tbree times the rate of harVESL

At the same time that they are providing one of the most renewable building materials, redwood mills are protecting wildlife such as the northem spotted owl, the Coho salmon and the marbled murrelet. When speaking with the public, it is always important to point out that the most beautiful and scenic redwood forests are already saved forever in more than 350,000 acres of public lands.

At the CRA, we will continue to tell the redwood story through literature, publicity and educational programs. There are many "redwood myths" floating around out there. We hope you will join us in relating the facts and identifying the fictitious.