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DOCUMENT RESUME
04785 - [B0265137]
Timber Harvest Levels for National Forests: how Good Are They?
CED-78-15; J-125053. January 24, 1978. 42 pp. + 2 appendices (7
P p.). =:--..
Report to the Congress; 'y Elmer B. Staats, Comptroller General.
Issue Area: Land Use'PlAzning and Control: Management of Federal
Lands and Related Vesources (2306).
Contact: Community an4 Economic Development Div.
Budget Function: Natkar-a'I Resources, Environment, and Energy:
Conservation and Land Management (302).
Organization Concerne-Ltbepartment of Agricultqre; Forest
Service.
Congressional Releva CIO Hosuse Committee on Agriculture: Senate
Committee on Agrlc.uture, Nutrition, and Fcrestry.
Authority: Multiple OsUe'Sustained Yield Act of 1960 (16 U.S.C.
526). Forest and langeland Renewable Resources Planning Act
of 1974 (16 u.5.c 1601). National Forest Management Act of
1976 (P.L. 94-58$,.90 Stat. 2949).
Increasing concerns have been expressed by the
Congress, the timber industry, enviro;,mentalists, and
timber-dependent comiurnities abou t the amount ef timber being
harvested from natioqal forests. Some believe that the Forest
Service should increase its level of cutting timber ia order to
reduce losses, increase supplies, and reduce unemployment.
Others believe that tTmber cutting shculd be reduced in order to
reduce the decline in recreational resources, reduce soil
disturbances, and assure future timber supplies.
Findings/Conclusions: While the Forest Service recognized these
concerns in developing its new timber management plans it has
not developed the plans with the uniformity and precision needed
ror assuring sustained timber harvests and coordinating them
with other forest resource uses. Statistical reliability
criteria were e-t&bl,sed for estimating national forest timber
inventories but not faz specific timber classifications used to
determine allowable harvest levels. Uncertainties in aetermining
harvest levels resulted from sampling errors, difficulties in
determining statistical reliability of estirates, failure to
identity areas requiring certain management practices, and
questionable maaqemtassumption- and procedures used to
determine harvest levels. All timber marnagement practices that
were being used or cpvi4 be used to i ustain harvest levels and
achieve higher levels, were not given adequate corsideration in
timber management plVning. Conflicts tetween timber uses and
other forest resourcpuses occurred in implementing some plans.
oasinq timber sales jnd management decisions on harvest levels
that are uncertain could lead to overcutting or undercutting
which coulu influenc e lumber supplies and prices.
Recommendations: The. F.rest Service should: evaluate timber
inver.tory methods and modify inventory procedures for national](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaawnk0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)