Forestation

-About one third of the U.S.747 million acres are forested. That’s about two thirds of the forest land that existed when Columbus discovered America.(American Forest and Paper Association)

-14.5 million acres of forest land in Missouri or 32% of the total 44.1 million Missouri acres

-2.5 million acres of trees are planted each year by forest landowners in the US

-2.7 billion seedlings are planted each year by the forest industry in the US or 10 trees for every person in America

-7.5 million seedlings were distributed from the state nursery in 2002 (MO Dept. of Conservation)

-US total softwood and hardwood inventory has increased 36 percent since 1953 despite increasing production of wood and paper products.

-Over 7 billion trees in Missouri’s timberlands, that is a volume of 14 billion cubic feet (does not include trees on pasture land, urban areas, and other areas not considered forested)

-Red and white oaks, the hickories, and elms make up nearly three fourths of Missouri’s total forest

-Most of Missouri’s volume is in the 7 to 12 inch diameter size class

Growth - US

(Forest Statistics of the United States)

-The timberlands of the U.S. contain 23% more standing timber volume than in 1952. 

-Everyday the forest industry, together with federal and state forestry agencies, plants over 6 million more trees.

Growth - Missouri

-Annual Growth 1,200 million board feet

-Annual Harvest 550 million board feet