Estimation of U.S. Timber Harvest Using Roundwood Equivalents

Abstract

This report details the procedure used to estimate the roundwood products portion of U.S. annual timber harvest levels by using roundwood equivalents. National-level U.S. forest products data published by trade associations and State and Federal Government organizations were used to estimate the roundwood equivalent of national roundwood products production. The procedure for estimating roundwood equivalent of roundwood products is to calculate the ?roundwood equivalent? of solid wood products using recovery factors estimated from mill studies over the years. The procedure for estimating roundwood equivalent of products provides a simple technique for estimating the major portion of national timber harvest levels that is less expensive than conducting surveys and can be done on an annual basis. This technique provides a benchmark that can be used in conjunction with the Forest Inventory and Analysis survey approach, which helps ensure the accuracy of both methods. These national harvest levels were estimated by working backwards from U.S. national timber products production data using lumber recovery factors to derive the roundwood equivalent of harvest.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the sixth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium

Citation

Howard, James. 2006. Estimation of U.S. Timber Harvest Using Roundwood Equivalents. In: Proceedings of the sixth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; 2004 September 21-24; Denver, CO. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-70. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. 126 p.