North American Forest North American Forest RegionsRegions

Eight Major Forest RegionsEight Major Forest Regions

Northern ConiferousNorthern Coniferous Northern HardwoodsNorthern Hardwoods Central Broad Central Broad

LeavedLeaved SouthernSouthern

Bottomland Bottomland HardwoodsHardwoods

TropicalTropical Rocky MountainRocky Mountain Pacific Coast ForestPacific Coast Forest

ForestForest Boundaries – do not follow strict geographic Boundaries – do not follow strict geographic lineslines

Northern Coniferous ForestNorthern Coniferous Forest

Boreal ForestBoreal Forest

Location: northern zone of Location: northern zone of continentcontinent

Northern Coniferous ForestNorthern Coniferous Forest

Contains: marshes, swamps, rivers, Contains: marshes, swamps, rivers, and lakesand lakes

Climate: coldClimate: cold Elevation: generally lowElevation: generally low Soil: relatively poor and infertileSoil: relatively poor and infertile Drainage: poorDrainage: poor Largest forest in North AmericaLargest forest in North America

Northern Hardwoods ForestNorthern Hardwoods Forest

Location: southeastern Canada Location: southeastern Canada through New England & northern through New England & northern Appalachian Mts.Appalachian Mts.

Northern Hardwoods ForestNorthern Hardwoods Forest

Contains: important hardwood trees, Contains: important hardwood trees, citiescities

Climate: temperateClimate: temperate Specific Info: 100 yrs. Ago – most Specific Info: 100 yrs. Ago – most

abundant tree species – American abundant tree species – American ChestnutChestnut Produced tannin – used in tanning hidesProduced tannin – used in tanning hides Killed by parasitic fungusKilled by parasitic fungus

Central Broad-Leaved ForestCentral Broad-Leaved Forest

Location: central to eastern United StatesLocation: central to eastern United States Climate: temperateClimate: temperate Specific Info: much of area cleared for Specific Info: much of area cleared for

farmlandfarmland Wood used to make hardwood furnitureWood used to make hardwood furniture

Southern ForestSouthern Forest

Location: Location: southeastern southeastern United StatesUnited States

Contains: sandy Contains: sandy soils, privately soils, privately owned landowned land

Climate: humid, Climate: humid, subtropicssubtropics

Elevation: close to Elevation: close to sea - levelsea - level

Bottomland Hardwoods Bottomland Hardwoods ForestForest

Location: southern Mississippi Delta and Location: southern Mississippi Delta and central/southern Coastal plains (area along the central/southern Coastal plains (area along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts parallel to coastline)Atlantic and Gulf coasts parallel to coastline)

Bottomland Hardwoods Bottomland Hardwoods ForestForest

Contains: floodplains and swampsContains: floodplains and swamps Climate: temperate Climate: temperate Elevation: relatively low, close to sea Elevation: relatively low, close to sea

levellevel Specific Info: three groups Specific Info: three groups

Cottonwood/willowCottonwood/willow Cypress-tupeloCypress-tupelo Mixed bottomland hardwoodsMixed bottomland hardwoods

Tropical ForestTropical Forest

Location: southern tip Location: southern tip of FL, Mexicoof FL, Mexico

Climate: tropics – Climate: tropics – frequent rainfallfrequent rainfall

Elevation: low and highElevation: low and high Specific Info: plant Specific Info: plant

species may be useful species may be useful for medicinal purposesfor medicinal purposes

Rocky Mountain ForestRocky Mountain Forest

Location: band from British Columbia to Location: band from British Columbia to southern Mexicosouthern Mexico

Climate: dry, temperateClimate: dry, temperate Elevation: relatively highElevation: relatively high Specific Info: pines used in paper Specific Info: pines used in paper

productionproduction

Pacific Coast ForestPacific Coast Forest Location: Alaska Location: Alaska

to California to California coastal regioncoastal region

Climate: two Climate: two zones: east and zones: east and west of mountainswest of mountains

Specific Info: most Specific Info: most productive forest productive forest on continenton continent