Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Two-thirds of the American forest, including a large part of national forest, is
exploited for commercial purposes. The logging industry exploits less than 40% of
the forest in the West, and nearly half of that forest is neither exploited nor
protected. This percentage is partly due to Alaska, since taiga has very little
commercial value and is also very difficult to access in most of the state. Until the
1930s, the logging industry in America despoiled the land, with the widespread
practice of clearcutting. Erosion, caused by the deforestation of the southern
Appalachians, began generating greater awareness. Over time, private forest owners
began developing management plans for their resources. The majority of exploited
forests, including 40% of the area of privately exploited forests, are now sustainably
exploited. According to estimates from the National Forest Service, the supply of
usable wooded area has increased since 1953. However, this increase is only in the
eastern half of the US; supply in the West remains changed. Some over-exploitation
of large coniferous trees occurs in western states. The practice of clearcutting has
largely been replaced by more selective methods, except in the South where many
pine plantations are destined for commercial exploitation. An average of one million
hectares of forest is planted each year in the United States, the majority of which is
commercial pine forest in southern states (see Figure 2.11).
Coniferous Forest
Mixed Forest
Deciduous Forest
0
50 0 km
Source: US Geological Survey
Designed and made by JM Zaninetti, University of Orleans, CEDETE Institute
Figure 2.11. Forest area in 2002
 
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