Southern Forests for the Future

The report examines the ecological and economic importance of southern US forests, noting they provide 18% of global pulpwood despite covering only 2% of world forest area. It details a historical net decline of 40% in forest extent since European settlement and projects that suburban development will convert 19 million acres of forest between 2020 and 2040. The document highlights that 87% of these forests are privately owned, making the implementation of market-based incentives—such as carbon sequestration payments and conservation easements—critical for future sustainability, though current adoption of these measures remains mixed.

• Southern forests are globally significant for paper production, yielding 18 percent of the world's pulpwood while occupying only two percent of the global forest area.
• Since the beginning of European settlement, the net extent of southern forests has decreased by an estimated 40 percent, although over 99 percent of the acreage was cleared at some point during the subsequent four centuries.
• Between 2020 and 2040, suburban residential and commercial development is expected to convert 19 million acres of forest and increase fragmentation; this loss will not be sufficiently offset by agricultural land reverting to forest.
• Climate change and biological threats are projected to impact forest health through intensified droughts, exacerbated wildfire risks, the inundation of coastal forests, and outbreaks of pests and pathogens such as the emerald ash borer and gypsy moth.
• Because approximately 87 percent of southern forest acreage is privately owned—with two-thirds held by individuals and families—the future of these forests depends on the adoption of incentives like carbon sequestration payments, conservation easements, and sustainably harvested timber markets, many of which are currently undersubscribed or novel to owners.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Southern Forests for the Future. https://www.wri.org/research/southern-forests-future

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Southern Forests for the Future. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/southern-forests-future.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Southern Forests for the Future |url=https://www.wri.org/research/southern-forests-future |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendsouthern, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Southern Forests for the Future}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/southern-forests-future}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }