Results of the 2005 annual inventory of South Dakota show 1.7 million acres of forest land in the State. Timberland accounted for more than 90 percent of the forest land area. More than 70 percent of the timberland is publicly owned. Eighty percent (1.2 billion cubic feet) of the growing-stock volume on timberland came from ponderosa pine. All live aboveground tree biomass on timberland totaled 30.3 million dry tons. Major insect problems in South Dakota's forests were mountain pine beetle and the pine engraver beetle.

In 2006, a panel explored a modeled energy scenario in which wind would provide 20 percent of U.S. electricity by 2030. Their official report estimates impacts and discusses specific needs and outcomes.