B. Differences between Softwood and Hardwood Regions

(1) The United States can be divided into two primary forest regions, the forests

east of the Great Plains and those west of the Great Plains, including Alaska. There are many differences between these regions.

(2) Commercial hardwood timber species such as oaks, gums, maples,

hickories, and walnut are located primarily in the East, which is divided into the northern, southern, and Appalachian hardwood regions. In the Northeast, the hardwoods tend to be the most commercially valuable species. In the Southeast, the softwoods (mainly pine) are the more commercially valuable species.

(3) In the West, most sawtimber is softwood. The common softwood species are

Douglas-Fir, Hemlocks, True Firs, Pines, Spruces, Cedars, and Redwoods. The forests in the West tend to contain larger size trees and have more volume of timber per acre than forests in the East.

(4) One major difference between the forests in the East and the West is the

type of forest ownership. In the East, most timberlands are privately owned, but in the West, the federal government owns most timberlands.

(5) Another important difference is the accessibility of timberlands to loggers.

The terrain in the East generally is not as steep and rugged as it is in the West, making the harvest of timber in the East easier. There also are differences in the way that timberlands regenerate after harvests in the East and the West. Eastern hardwood forests tend to regenerate themselves naturally, while Western and Southern commercially managed softwood forests usually receive site preparation and the planting of seedlings. Silviculture, the art and science of managing a forest, is required for both methods to be most productive.

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(6) Finally, the products and by-products made from hardwoods and softwoods

are different. Hardwoods are used more commonly for furniture making, flooring, veneer, and pallets. Hardwoods also are used for making printing grades of paper.

(7) Softwoods are used more commonly to produce construction lumber and

plywood. Softwoods also may be used to make paper and paperboard items requiring strength, such as bags and boxes. However, hardwood and softwood fibers often are blended to make paper. Recycling paper also provides a significant source of fiber for paper makers.