Growing U.S. population and income will continue to drive increased demand for forest-based commodities, amenities, and environmental protection. With potential comparative disadvantages in costs associated with environmental regulation, land, labor and fiber production, the U.S. fiber-based industry has recognized that the next several decades represent a potential turning point (Agenda 2020). Recently we have observed significant structural change in the industry via mergers and land divestitures driven by the need to provide shareholders with a competitive return on investment in a global marketplace. Globalization also applies to the market for research, with technological advances in fiber and manufacturing production readily assimilated into newer offshore capacity.

We are asking two questions, 1) what is the future of the domestic fiber-based industry? (i.e. will it follow the offshore path of other natural resource based industries like steel or textiles), and 2) what are the implications of this future for resource management, research, and the profession of forestry?