BUSINESS SEGMENTS - Additional Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	$ 480	$ 503	$ 538
Charges for restructuring, closures and impairments (Note 18)	83	148	686
Total assets	12,598	13,429	15,250
Timberlands
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	4,689	4,731	4,712
Wood Products
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	1,170	1,453	1,724
Cellulose Fibers
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	2,377	2,365	2,255
Real Estate
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	1,917	1,953	2,002
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	2,445	2,927	4,557
Segment, Continuing Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	476	495	529
Net pension and postretirement credit (cost)	72	(34)	(134)
Charges for restructuring, closures and impairments (Note 18)	83	148	686
Equity in income (loss) of equity affiliates and unconsolidated entities	0	0	3
Capital expenditures	238	232	218
Investments in and advances to equity affiliates and unconsolidated entities	213	210	214
Segment, Continuing Operations [Member] | Timberlands
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	135	118	124
Net pension and postretirement credit (cost)	7	6	0
Charges for restructuring, closures and impairments (Note 18)	0	2	27
Equity in income (loss) of equity affiliates and unconsolidated entities	0	0	0
Capital expenditures	53	72	83
Investments in and advances to equity affiliates and unconsolidated entities	0	0	0
Segment, Continuing Operations [Member] | Wood Products
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	144	170	190
Net pension and postretirement credit (cost)	22	19	5
Charges for restructuring, closures and impairments (Note 18)	64	113	165
Equity in income (loss) of equity affiliates and unconsolidated entities	0	0	0
Capital expenditures	35	31	53
Investments in and advances to equity affiliates and unconsolidated entities	0	0	0
Segment, Continuing Operations [Member] | Cellulose Fibers
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	144	145	142
Net pension and postretirement credit (cost)	13	11	6
Charges for restructuring, closures and impairments (Note 18)	1	0	3
Equity in income (loss) of equity affiliates and unconsolidated entities	2	(6)	2
Capital expenditures	146	123	61
Investments in and advances to equity affiliates and unconsolidated entities	191	194	197
Segment, Continuing Operations [Member] | Real Estate
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	12	16	17
Net pension and postretirement credit (cost)	4	3	(4)
Charges for restructuring, closures and impairments (Note 18)	14	21	296
Equity in income (loss) of equity affiliates and unconsolidated entities	2	12	8
Capital expenditures	3	5	8
Investments in and advances to equity affiliates and unconsolidated entities	21	16	17
Segment, Continuing Operations [Member] | Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	41	46	56
Net pension and postretirement credit (cost)	26	(73)	(141)
Charges for restructuring, closures and impairments (Note 18)	4	12	195
Equity in income (loss) of equity affiliates and unconsolidated entities	(4)	(6)	(7)
Capital expenditures	1	1	13
Investments in and advances to equity affiliates and unconsolidated entities	$ 1	$ 0	$ 0