equate to approximately one cubic meter per year from potentially converted land. Only 19 counties were identified as having higher potential deforestation rates, and collectively they account for just 0.6 percent of total U.S. hardwood sawlog harvest. Sustainability Confirmed by Forest Inventory Data The AHA assessment is reinforced by long-established U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory & Analysis (FIA) data, which consistently shows that U.S. hardwood forests are highly sustainable. Annual hardwood growth exceeds the combined volume of harvest and natural mortality, meaning the resource is expanding over time rather than being depleted. This favorable growth-to-harvest balance reflects decades of responsible forest management by a diverse ownership base, supported by conservation programs, extension services, and regulatory frameworks that encourage long-term forest retention. According to a recent statistical update by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): • Between 1953 and 2017 the volume of U.S. hardwood growing stock increased from 5.2 billion cubic meters to 12.0 billion cubic meters, a gain of more than 130 percent. • U.S. hardwood forests are aging and more trees are being allowed to grow to size before being harvested. The volume of hardwood trees with diameters 48cm or greater increased nearly four-fold from 0.73 billion cubic meters in 1953 to 2.8 billion cubic meters in 2017. The proportion of hardwood trees in this mature age class increased from 14 percent in 1953 to 24 percent in 2017. • The total area of hardwood and mixed hardwood and softwood forest types in the U.S. increased from 99 million hectares in 1953 to 117 million hectares in 2017, an average of 280,000 hectares per year — that’s equivalent to adding an area the size of a soccer pitch every 90 seconds throughout the entire 64 year period.
Keith Christman is president of the Decorative Hardwoods Association, formerly known as Hardwood Plywood and Veneer Association. He welcomes your thoughts and questions at kchristman@decorativehardwoods.org. Visit the DHA at www. decorativehardwoods.org. References 1. American Hardwood Assured (AHA). (2024). Deforestation-Risk Assessment Annual Summary Report. 2. USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Cropland Data Layer (CDL). 3. U.S. Forest Service. Forest Inventory & Analysis (FIA) Program. 4. FAO. Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020.
A Deforestation-Free Choice for Global Markets Taken together, the evidence is compelling. American hardwood is a demonstrably low-risk, sustainable, and deforestation-free material choice. With transparent data, advanced monitoring, and forest growth that exceeds removals, Real American Hardwood provides confidence for manufacturers, designers, policymakers, and consumers seeking responsible, future-proof supply chains. S P
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