Who's who in western woods

IIESPITE the effect preservation- lJists' aclions have had on timber supply ftom pblic lands, the western forest industry is still able to supply a large share of the wood products needed to meet demand in the United States. Western forest landowners plant about 7AO nillion trees every year and modern forest management techniques are so effective, these 'forests boast a growth rate 'that exceeds harvest by 30Vo annually. Through these efforts, our forest resource has actually iilcr€a:s€d in size since the 1920s. So, reasons Westem Wood Products Association, we will never rim out of trees or the products that come from them.

Timber supply constrain8 resulting from frivolous appeals and lawsuits have affected the availability of products from old growth - mostly large dimension Douglas fir, the highest gades of pine and the clear heart centers of cedar and redwood. However, many western lumber products still are in excellent supply. For instange, Douglas fir remains the most commonly used framing material in the U.S. and structural Douglas fir lumber is still readily available in aI parts of the country. The chart below, compiled by WWPA, provides a sunmary of the major western softwood species.