AUGUST 202219Forests in the U.S. Southeast are vast and healthy. Despite rapid population growth and increased demand for timber worldwide, the number of trees in U.S. forests has increased every year for more than 50 years. In fact, forest inventory in the U.S. Southeast has increased more than 100 percent since 1953, and during the last 20 years (even after accounting for all of the forests uses by the forest products industry) forest growth has exceeded removals by nearly 50 percent. Currently, the growth to drain ratio in the U.S. Southeast is 1.7x, meaning for every one tree harvested, close to two trees are being replanted in its place across the region.Third-party data, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) demonstrate that an increased demand for forest products has resulted in more, not less, forest inventory in the U.S. Southeast. That's because approximately 86 percent of forests in the U.S. Southeast are owned by private landowners, according to the National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO). Timber markets, made stronger by the bioenergy market, provide economic incentives to By Justin Tait, Head of Sustainability in Europe, EnvivaJustin TaitCXO INSIGHTSTHE ROOT OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOURCING
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