CEDAR

than two-fifths of composite and plastic lumber demand by 2018. Among other uses, moulding and trim applications are also expected to advance at a strong pace through 2018.

Composite demand should rise at a quicker pace than plastic lumber, since composite lumber includes cellulosic fibers and is better able to resemble the look and texture of traditional wood, an appealing trait to consumers looking for attractive but low maintenance decks.

Furthermore, because composite lumber frequently is manufactured using recycled materials- including consumable plastic, such as grocery bags and stretch film, and wood scraps from mills and other lumber operations-it is often marketed as an environmentally friendly building material.

A separate Freedonia forecast predicted overall U.S. demand for decking should rise 2.4V0 per year through 2018 to 3.5 billion lineal ft., valued at $6.5 billion.

Plum Creek Selling NW Land to Nature Conservancy

Plum Creek Timber Co.. Seattle. Wa., agreed to sell approximately 165,000 acres of Montana and Washington forestland to The Nature Conservancy for $134 million.

The sale is part of an effort to unite the checkerboard land ownership patterns of these lands. The agreement includes timberlands located at relatively high elevations with slower growing trees. While less productive for timber operations, the lands are desired for forest conservation, recreation, public access, and ecological protection.

According to Plum Creek, they are among the most ecologically diverse and intact biological systems remaining in the U.S., including lands in the lower Blackfoot Valley near Missoula, Mt., located in the Crown of the Continent, and also lands on both sides of Interstate 90 between Snoqualmie Pass and Ellensburg in Kittitas County, Wa., located in the Heart of the Cascades.

"Plum Creek has a strong history of conservation and is pleased to partner in the sale of these lands to accommodate the public interest in securing permanent conservation that protects ecological and recreational values," said Plum Creek c.e.o. Rick Holley. "This is an important conservation project that recognizes the highest benefit these lands offerprotecting ecological values and helping to maintain public access. We are pleased that we were able to work with TNC to conserve some of the nation's most important forest areas."

The property will be acquired by The Nature Conservancy in two phases, the first closing in the fourth quarter of 2014 and the second closing by end of the first quarter of 20 I 5

Plum Creek owns 6.7 million acres of timberlands in the Northwest and Southeast.