HARDWOOD SHORTAGES: myth or reality?

.|tHE REASONS may change, but I rumors that there is a hardwood shortage persist. Gypsy moths, poor forestry management, exports and preservationists share the blame in attempts to explain high prices and spot shortages.

There's not much basis for any of the rumors according to some hardwood experts. James L. Gundy, executive vice president of the Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc.. says that the U.S. has a greater volume of hardwood trees than at any time in the last 50 years and is growing twice as much as is being harvested annually.

"Growth is assured in the mountains through natural regeneration," he explains. "With management of these stands in Appalachia, prime species will provide future generations with ample supplies of superior red and white oak, ash, maple, walnut, cherry, poplar, beech and birch. "

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that about I 1.5 billion board feet of hardwood lumber was produced last year, up from I l. I billion in 1987 and l0 billion in 1986. Growth, on the other hand, has been estimated at more than 25 billion board feet each year since 1985 and is escalating each year.

Lumbermen point out that hardwoods in the mountains grow back

Story at a Glance

Experts naturally when the forest floor is exposed to light and moisture as old growths of mature trees are removed. As many as 50 to 60 thousand shoots per acre come out in the year following a harvest. Those new seedlings that are not eaten or damaged by wildlife are thinned after further growth. Dominant species then take over and the weaker or less shade tolerant trees recede or die out.

According to Robert Joslin, deputy director, timber management staff, USDA Forest Service, "The nation's appetite for forest products is increasing, and for the most part the U.S. is self-reliant in supplying them."

Citing as an example the one billion board feet of hardwood lumber, about 10% of the U.S. hardwood lumber production, used in kitchen cabinet manufacturing each year, he explained that net growth of all hardwood growing stock is nearly double removals. "However." he added. "for larger sized sawtimber of preferred species, such as white oak, sweetgum, yellow birch, hard maple, walnut and black cherry, removals have been close to or above net annual growth in recent decades."

Several other hardwood species such as aspen, soft maple and yellow poplar are very abundant and present an excellent opportunity for increased utilization, Joslin points out.

According to Gundy, the most pressing problem is the resource base. "Obstructionists would stop all tree harvesting. Organizations making a serious effort to limit harvesting include The Wilderness Society, F'riends of the Earth, The Sierra Club, The Audubon Society and regional activist groups that espouse