Wood-Products Markets, Communities, and Regional Economies

Moist coniferous forests have played a significant role in the economic and social well-being of the Pacific Northwest. The region’s forest-products industry has evolved in the context of federal forest policy that changed from discussions about selling off federal land to consideration of (1) conservation and sustainable yield; (2) active management and planning; (3) multiple use and preservation; and (4) the present emphasis on ecosystem management and ecological forestry. As the dialogues changed, the alliance between forest industry and forest policy, which was once at the heart of Northwest forest management, also changed.