RPA Assessment of the Forest and Rangeland
Situation in the United States -- 1993 Update

The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (as amended) directed the Secretary of Agriculture to prepare a Renewable Resources Assessment by December 31,1975, with an update in 1979 and each 10th year thereafter. This assessment is to include "an analysis of present and anticipated uses, demand for, and supply of the renewable resources, with consideration of the international resource situation, and an emphasis of pertinent supply, demand, and price relationships trends." The 1989 RPA Assessment was the third prepared in response to the legislation. This Update of the 1989 RPA Assessment was done to provide a foundation for the 1995 RPA Program. The Update summarizes the findings and implications of 19 supporting technical documents.

Highlights include the following:

• The political and social environment for management of renewable resources is changing­­for example, increased commitment to protect watersheds, wildlife habitat, and ecological diversity on Federal lands resulted in a reduction in the projected timber volume offered for sale from National Forest lands: 900 million cubic feet in 2000 compared to 2.4 billion assumed in the 1989 RPA Assessment.


• The character of the forest and rangeland estate is changing­­for example, forest land area stabilized between 1987 and 1992, reversing a downward trend dating from 1963.


• The demand­supply outlook for renewable resources is changing­­for example, the proportion of the population that is white and non­Hispanic will decline from 75 percent in 1992 to 56 percent by 2040 and this may affect demands for different types of recreational activities.


• A number of resource situations appear to be acceptable­­including big game habitats and populations, recycling of wastepaper, and range forage availability.


• A number of resource situations appear to be deteriorating­­including forest and rangeland health, fish habitat and populations, and the status of wetland and riparian areas.


• A number of resource situations appear to have potentially serious consequences­­including global climate change, the growing list of endangered and threatened species, and the reclamation needs for abandoned mines.

USDA, Forest Service. 1994. RPA Assessment of the Forest and Rangeland Situation in the United States -- 1993 Update. Forest Resources Report No. 27. Washington, D.C. 75 p.