Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
areas, spanning 11 million hectares. Approximately 10 million hectares of private
forest are also protected. The protected area has doubled since 1953, representing up
to 7% of the total US forest area. Most of these forest reserves (75%) are found in
the West (see Table 2.1).
North,
North-East
West and High Plains
(including Alaska)
Forest Region
South
Total
Area (millions ha)
167
216
533
916
Forest 1630
120
143
159
422
Forested area % 1630
72%
66%
30%
46%
Forest 1907
56
95
156
307
Forested area % 1907
33%
44%
29%
34%
Area change 1630-1907
(base 100 in 1630)
47
66
98
73
Forest 1953
65
91
149
305
Commercial Forest 1953
62
83
61
206
Commercial Forest share
1953
95%
91%
41%
68%
Forest Preserves 1953
1
1
8
10
Forest Preserves share 1953
2%
1%
5%
3%
Forest 1997
69
87
147
303
Forested area 1997
41%
40%
28%
33%
Area change 1907-1997
(base 100 in 1907)
123
92
94
99
Commercial Forest 1997
65
81
58
204
Commercial Forest share
1997
94%
93%
39%
67%
Forest Preserves 1997
3
2
16
21
Forest Preserves share 1997
4%
2%
11%
7%
National Forest 1997
5
5
50
60
National Forest share 1997
7%
6%
34%
20%
Other Forest on Federal
Domain
12
5
51
68
Forest on Federal Domain
share 1997
17%
6%
35%
22%
Table 2.1.
Forest area in the United States
(Source: National Forest Service Report 2000)
