Results of the first annual inventory of Nebraska's forests (2001-05) show an estimated 1.24 million acres of forest land; 1.17 million acres meet the definition of timberland. Softwood forest types account for one-third of all forest land area, with ponderosa pine being the most prevalent type. Hardwood forest types comprise 58 percent of Nebraska's forest land. Elm/ash/cottonwood is the predominant forest-type group in the State, accounting for 26 percent of all forest land area. Live-tree volume on timberland increased from 1.3 to 1.8 billion cubic feet between the 1994 and 2005 inventories. This report includes information on forest attributes, forest health, and agents of change: the introduction of nonnative invasive plants, insects and diseases, and the rapid expansion of eastern red cedar.

Results of the 2005 annual inventory of Nebraska show an estimated 1.24 million acres of forest land. Softwoods comprise one-third of this forested area, with ponderosa pine being the primary component by acreage and volume. Hardwoods comprise more than half (58 percent) of all forested acreage. Overall, the elm/ash/cottonwood type is the predominant forest-type group in the state, comprising 26 percent of all forested land. In terms of volume, the estimate of net volume of all live trees and salvable dead trees on timberland increased from 1.71 to 1.74 billion cubic feet between the 1983 and 2005 inventories.