Estimating a Regional Economic Conservation Benefit of Using Domestic Hardwoods vs. Apitong for Trailer Decking: A Case Study on US Army Use

United States Army trucks and trailers use an estimated one million board feet (2381 cubic meters) of a critically endangered tropical hardwood, apitong (Dipterocarpus spp.), from southeast Asian rainforests, for wood decking annually. However, their purchasing specifications require the domestic hardwoods decking, floorboards, platforms. Several US hardwood species, including northern red oak (Quercus rubra), white alba), hickory (Carya black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), sugar maple (Acer saccharum) could serve as viable substitutes. They have comparable strength properties to apitong, there is abundant sustainable feedstock based on Forest Service Inventory Analysis (USFS FIA) database. The economic impact in New York State manufacturing panels Onondaga County three selected species: hickory, oak, locust, was using IMPLAN. be high $27 million, creating 128 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs. Equally important providing local regional benefits, domestically sourced also contributes preservation particularly when entire market considered (beyond Army), which includes consumption by other government agencies at various levels private sector.