Timber growth, mortality, and change

The previous section discussed trends in timber volume. Changes in volume often result from land-use change; that is, land entering or removed from the timber base. On those acres remaining forested, tree growth and mortality are the primary factors for volume change. Annual rates of growth and mortality often differ by species group, ownership, and geographic region. This section of chapter 5 focuses on these two elements of change and their net effect on timber volume at a given point in time.