1. Forests of the United States

2. What is Wood Science? Study of that body of knowledge applicable to wood as a material, including: Study of that body of knowledge applicable to wood as a material, including: plant origin of wood plant origin of wood properties and characteristics of wood and wood products properties and characteristics of wood and wood products Application of knowledge in conversion and processing of wood for use Application of knowledge in conversion and processing of wood for use Everett L. Ellis, Education in Wood Science and Technology [p. iii]

3. Boston August 14, 1765

4. “Forests are a key element in the broad sweep of United States history… There is no question that without its forests, the United States of America would have a decidedly different history, and would be a decidedly different place than it is today.” Douglas W. MacCleery, American Forests: A History of Resiliency and Recovery

5. 304 million hectares (751.2 million acres) Approx. 33% of the land area of U.S.

6. Forests of the World 4 billion hectares (9.96 billion acres) Forests cover approx. 30% of the planet’s land area U.S.A. accounts for 7.5% of Earth’s forest cover

7. What is a Forest? There are more than 250 definitions! There are more than 250 definitions! Definitions may be legal, political or ecological Definitions may be legal, political or ecological All require tree cover All require tree cover Most include a minimum percentage of canopy cover (overlapping crowns) – definitions range from 5-100% canopy cover Most include a minimum percentage of canopy cover (overlapping crowns) – definitions range from 5-100% canopy cover May require a minimum land area (i.e. 1 acre) May require a minimum land area (i.e. 1 acre)

8. Forest land—Land at least 10 percent stocked by forest trees of any size, including land that formerly had such tree cover and that will be naturally or artificially regenerated. Forest land includes transition zones, such as areas between heavily forested and nonforested lands that are at least 10 percent stocked with forest trees and forest areas adjacent to urban and built-up lands. Also included are pinyon-juniper and chaparral areas in the West and afforested areas. The minimum area for classification of forest land is 1 acre. Roadside, streamside, and shelterbelt strips of trees must have a crown width of at least 120 feet to qualify as forest land. Unimproved roads and trails, streams, and clearings in forest areas are classified as forest if less than 120 feet wide. U.S. Forest Service Definition

9. Think of various ways we describe forests… Old-growth forest Old-growth forest Second-growth forest Second-growth forest Ancient forest Ancient forest Original forest Original forest Healthy forest Healthy forest Plantation forest Plantation forest Natural forest Natural forest Rain forest Rain forest Virgin forest Virgin forest Anthropogenic forest Anthropogenic forest Industrial forest Industrial forest Commercial forest Commercial forest National forest National forest Temperate forest Temperate forest Tropical forest Tropical forest Boreal forest Boreal forest Non-industrial private forest Non-industrial private forest Real forest (as in “not a real forest”) Real forest (as in “not a real forest”) Woodland Woodland

10. The Rich Diversity of U.S. Forests

11. Forest Types “Forest type” describes forests that prevail in a given region Name based upon dominant tree species within that region’s forests For example, the dominant forest type in West Virginia is oak-hickory

12. Tree: “A woody plant that attains a height of at least 20 feet at maturity in a given locality and usually (not always) has a single self ‑ supporting stem or trunk.”

13. It all starts with photosynthesis CO 2 & H 2 O (both greenhouse gases) are combined to form simple sugars in the leaves CO 2 & H 2 O (both greenhouse gases) are combined to form simple sugars in the leaves The process is powered by solar energy The process is powered by solar energy

14. What’s inside the bark?

15. Wood The portion of a tree’s stem, branches, and roots located inside the bark The portion of a tree’s stem, branches, and roots located inside the bark Also known as the xylem Also known as the xylem

16. Wood “Changes and developments in wood usage make up a little-known but important part of U.S. history.” W.G. Youngquist and H.O. Fleischer, Wood in American Life

17. Growth of the Tree Simple sugars produced in photosynthesis are transported down the stem through the phloem (inner bark) to newly forming cells of the xylem (wood) where they are converted into complex molecules (polymers) – cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin.

18. Cell Structure of Wood Long, slender tubes Long, slender tubes 100 x longer than wide 100 x longer than wide Functions in the tree: Functions in the tree: Fluid transport Strength The properties of wood make it very useful to humans The properties of wood make it very useful to humans

19. Tree Taxonomy Taxonomy: Systematic classification of plants and animals according to their natural relationships Taxonomy: Systematic classification of plants and animals according to their natural relationships All trees belong to the plant kingdom but hardwoods and softwoods belong to different phylum All trees belong to the plant kingdom but hardwoods and softwoods belong to different phylum Species: The most basic unit of taxonomy; organisms possessing similar characteristics and are capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring Species: The most basic unit of taxonomy; organisms possessing similar characteristics and are capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring There are an estimated 10,000 tree species in the world There are an estimated 10,000 tree species in the world More than 1,000 species are native to the U.S. More than 1,000 species are native to the U.S. Only 180 tree species are native to Canada Only 180 tree species are native to Canada The 10 most common species comprise nearly half of the trees in the U.S. The 10 most common species comprise nearly half of the trees in the U.S.

20. Hardwoods & Softwoods

21. Hardwoods Belong to the plant phylum Angiospermae Belong to the plant phylum Angiospermae Broad-leaved trees Broad-leaved trees Encased seeds, e.g. fruit, nuts, legumes, samara Encased seeds, e.g. fruit, nuts, legumes, samara Not to be confused with deciduous trees Not to be confused with deciduous trees

22. Softwoods Belong to the plant phylum Gymnospermae Belong to the plant phylum Gymnospermae “Naked seed” (e.g. cones) “Naked seed” (e.g. cones) Leaves are needles Leaves are needles Also known as conifers Also known as conifers Not to be confused with non-deciduous trees Not to be confused with non-deciduous trees

23. Deciduous Plant: A plant that loses its leaves in winter or in the dormant season Not all hardwoods are deciduous, i.e. live oak. Some softwoods are deciduous, i.e. eastern larch (tamarack).

24. Wood of the Hardwoods Hardwoods contain specialized fluid transport cells known as vessel elements or pores Most other hardwood cells are specialized strength- providing fibers

25. Wood of the Softwoods Almost all the wood cells of softwoods are of the same type – tracheids that serve both functions of fluid transport and strength

26. Forests of the World

28. Hardwood & Softwood Growing Stock by Region

29. How much of the forested area of the U.S. that existed at the time of European contact remains forested? A. Approx. ¼ B. Approx. ⅓ C. Approx. ½ D. Approx. ⅔ E. Approx. ¾ F. More than ¾

30. Forested Acres in the U.S.

31. Thoughts about History History is written by survivors. History is written by survivors. History is often written by “winners.” History is often written by “winners.” Two eyewitnesses may remember or interpret the same event differently. Two eyewitnesses may remember or interpret the same event differently. History may be distorted for self-serving reasons. History may be distorted for self-serving reasons. History may be distorted by later writers or writers from a different culture who interpret events through their own particular prism of biases. History may be distorted by later writers or writers from a different culture who interpret events through their own particular prism of biases.

32. More… History, like science, in its purest form is a search for truth. History, like science, in its purest form is a search for truth. Therefore, one must approach a study of history (and science) with an open mind and a healthy degree of skepticism. Therefore, one must approach a study of history (and science) with an open mind and a healthy degree of skepticism.