An examination of eastern U.S. hardwood roundwood markets

There are multiple markets for hardwood roundwood due to variations in the value of this material within and among hardwood stands. These variations are a function of differences in species mix and bole quality. Furthermore, individual trees can be processed or merchandised into numerous products with each product going to a different market. Because the merchandising process has an underlying profit motive, the characteristics of hardwood roundwood markets in a given area influence what sites will be harvested and what trees will be removed. Through this selection process markets can influence future composition and structure. In this paper, the industries that use hardwood roundwood and the attributes of the material used are characterized and the methods by which roundwood is distributed are described. There are three broad categories of hardwood roundwood markets: aesthetic, industrial, and fiber. Hardwood roundwood used to manufacture products for aesthetic application accounts for a relatively small portion of total roundwood harvested, but the value of these products has a disproportional influence on what sites will be harvested. Because of the skewed value of hardwood material, the potential value of a given stand may be determined by relatively few trees within the stand. Still, there are areas within the eastern hardwood region where a large portion of the resource is lower value or lower quality timber. In these areas, fiber-based industries may be an important factor influencing harvesting.

You must be logged in to download any documents. Please login (login accounts are free) or learn how to Become a Member