Timber Harvest Levels for National Forests: How Good Are They?

Increasing concerns have been expressed by Congress, the timber industry, environmentalists, and timber-dependent communities about the amount of timber being harvested from national forests. Some believe that the Forest Service should increase its level of cutting timber in order to reduce losses, increase supplies, and reduce unemployment. Others believe that timber cutting should be reduced in order to reduce the decline in recreational resources, reduce soil disturbances, and assure future timber supplies.