Part 7/9:
Beyond the timber supply itself, several aspects make lumber production in the Southern U.S. appealing compared to the Pacific Northwest. Fewer environmental protections in the Southeast facilitate more extensive logging operations without the constraints faced by companies in the Northwest. Additionally, the typical tree species in the Southern region, such as southern yellow pine, tends to grow faster, yielding quicker returns for lumber companies.
Despite these benefits, there is a caveat regarding lumber quality; timber sourced from the Pacific Northwest and Canada is generally considered superior compared to that from the Southeast.