Productivity growth is an important component of long term economic growth. It has been estimated that historically, productivity increases have accounted for as much as a third of the growth rate in the United States. During the period 1950 to 1973, the U.S. economy grew at an average annual rate of 2.1 percent, dropping to an average annual rate of 0.3 percent for the period 1973 to 1977. Current sluggish growth rates for the economy have been blamed almost entirely on the recent slowdown in the productivity growth rate. For the same periods, aggregate productivity growth rates were 2.1 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively. This study explores the sources of productivity change in the U.S. forest products sector. Specifically the following questions were considered: (1) Since the forest-based sector is diverse in terms of products and manufacturing processes, are there differences in the sources of productivity change between the industries comprising the forest-based sector? (2) and, considering the regional nature of some forest products industries and the regional differences in the wood resource, do the source of productivity change vary across geographical regions as well? The objectives of the study are as follows: (1) analyze the potential sources of productivity change, (2) identify the important factors involved in productivity change in the forest-based sector, (3) and, assess the relative importance of these factors among industry groups and geographical regions.

In August 20-23, 2004, a conference was held in Kamilche, WA, with the title S2Productivity of Western Forests: A Forest Products Focus. S3 The meeting brought together researchers and practitioners interested in discussing the economic and biological factors influencing wood production and value. One of the underlying assumptions of the meeting organizers was that management activities would be practiced within a framework of sustaining or improving site productivity; thus, several papers deal with methods to protect or improve productivity or discuss new studies designed to test the effects of various practices. This proceedings includes 11 papers based on oral presentations at the conference, 3 papers based on posters and 2 papers describing the Fall River and Matlock Long-Term Site Productivity study areas visited on the field tours. The papers cover subjects on forest harvesting activities, stand establishment, silviculture, site productivity, remote sensing, and wood product technologies.

This workshop brought together researchers & practitioners who discussed the economic & biological factors influencing wood production & value. Management activities would be practiced within a framework of sustaining or improving site productivity; thus, several papers deal with methods to protect or improve productivity or discuss new studies designed to test the effects of various practices. This pub. includes 11 papers based on oral presentations at the conf., 3 papers based on posters, & 2 papers describing the Fall River & Matlock Long-Term Site Productivity study areas visited on the field tours. The papers cover: forest harvesting activities, stand establishment, silviculture, site productivity, remote sensing, & wood product technologies. Illus.