This report below sheds light on forest dynamics and trends across the US South since the emergence and rapid growth of the wood pellet industry. Filled with many insightful charts and statistics, it helps quantify how the region’s forests continue to thrive in response to strong markets and sustainable management practices. It further illustrates how the wood pellet industry remains a small and integrated part of the larger forestry sector helping to drive these positive trends.  

Key findings:

• Forest owners across the US South have demonstrated their ability not only to use and maintain their forests but also to replenish and expand them 
• Forestland and timberland acres in the region remain at historically high levels
• Since the first pellet mill started operations in 2007, forestland acreage has increased 4.5%
• Total forest inventory in the region is the greatest it has been for the last 70 years
• Annual forest growth consistently outpaces removals, with the region experiencing an average annual growth rate of 1.3% since the 1950’s  
• In 2022, wood pellets accounted for 4% of total harvest removals and .08% of total forest inventory – an increase from 1% and .02% respectively in 2012 
• Since its foundation, the US pellet export industry has had less than 0.1% of impact on the proportion of wood removed compared to forest inventory