Old-Growth Forests (virgin forest) - forests that have never been
disturbed (logged or burned) Climax stage of succession (EX.
California Redwoods)
Pa Forest History
- 29 million acres of virgin forest in the time of the colonists
- 200 years ago logging was done to clear the land for crops
- A high demand for wood made PA the leading lumber producer
in the nation in the 1860’s
- Many of the hemlock trees (state tree) were cut down for the
tannic acid in their bark and the wood was wasted
- By the 1900’s almost all the virgin forests were removed
- Today Pa manages 2 million acres of forest and only a few
patches of virgin forest
Old- Growth forests of the Pacific Northwest
- Largest area of old-growth forest in the country
- The area is high in biodiversity
* Explain the relationship between of the following organisms to
the forests of the Pacific Northwest: (text pgs. 45-46)
Douglas Fir –
Truffle –
Marbled Murrlet –
Spotted Owl –
Trout and Salmon –
Predators (Fisher, Pine Marten, Wolverine) –
* Explain the importance of the Pacific Yew to humans:
*Federal forests are managed by the Forest Service.
Law require that national forests and other federal lands are
managed for multiple use.
Multiple Uses include logging, mining, grazing, as well as
recreation, fish and wildlife habitat and watershed (streams and
rivers) protection
* Only national parks and designated wilderness areas are
protected from logging.
National (federal) Forest
Federal forest map
National Parks