Competing for hardwoods on NIPF lands – chips versus quality

Increases in demands for raw material during the last few years have placed significant new pressures on the Southern hardwood forest. The majority of those forests are owned and controlled by non-industrial private landowners who have little knowledge of forest management or timber markets. When given the opportunity to sell timber, many landowners welcome the opportunity to sell all trees regardless of size or quality. These landowners may, in fact, sell good quality sawtimber and excellent growing stock to a purchaser of hardwood fiber. As the demand for hardwood fiber increases, significant competition can be expected between purchasers of sawtimber and purchasers of fiber. The short-term impact of quality sawlogs occasionally being used for fiber are inconsequential when compared to the long-term problems which may be caused by excessive removal of high quality growing stock. This paper examines competition for raw material from the viewpoint of the non-industrial private landowner and presents possible means through which purchasers of high quality sawtimber can remain competitive. Consideration is also given to methods of assuring an ample supply of high quality sawtimber for the future.

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