1. North American Forest Regions

2. Eight Major Forest Regions Northern Coniferous Northern Coniferous Northern Hardwoods Northern Hardwoods Central Broad Leaved Central Broad Leaved Southern Southern Bottomland Hardwoods Bottomland Hardwoods Tropical Tropical Rocky Mountain Rocky Mountain Pacific Coast Forest Pacific Coast Forest ForestBoundaries – do not follow strict geographic lines Forest Boundaries – do not follow strict geographic lines

3. Northern Coniferous Forest Boreal Forest Location: northern zone of continent

4. Northern Coniferous Forest Contains: marshes, swamps, rivers, and lakes Contains: marshes, swamps, rivers, and lakes Climate: cold Climate: cold Elevation: generally low Elevation: generally low Soil: relatively poor and infertile Soil: relatively poor and infertile Drainage: poor Drainage: poor Largest forest in North America Largest forest in North America

5. Northern Hardwoods Forest Location: southeastern Canada through New England & northern Appalachian Mts. Location: southeastern Canada through New England & northern Appalachian Mts.

6. Northern Hardwoods Forest Contains: important hardwood trees, cities Contains: important hardwood trees, cities Climate: temperate Climate: temperate Specific Info: 100 yrs. Ago – most abundant tree species – American Chestnut Specific Info: 100 yrs. Ago – most abundant tree species – American Chestnut Produced tannin – used in tanning hides Produced tannin – used in tanning hides Killed by parasitic fungus Killed by parasitic fungus

7. Central Broad-Leaved Forest Location: central to eastern United States Location: central to eastern United States Climate: temperate Climate: temperate Specific Info: much of area cleared for farmland Specific Info: much of area cleared for farmland Wood used to make hardwood furniture Wood used to make hardwood furniture

8. Southern Forest Location: southeastern United States Location: southeastern United States Contains: sandy soils, privately owned land Contains: sandy soils, privately owned land Climate: humid, subtropics Climate: humid, subtropics Elevation: close to sea - level Elevation: close to sea - level

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

10. Bottomland Hardwoods Forest Contains: floodplains and swamps Contains: floodplains and swamps Climate: temperate Climate: temperate Elevation: relatively low, close to sea level Elevation: relatively low, close to sea level Specific Info: three groups Specific Info: three groups Cottonwood/willow Cottonwood/willow Cypress-tupelo Cypress-tupelo Mixed bottomland hardwoods Mixed bottomland hardwoods

11. Tropical Forest Location: southern tip of FL, Mexico Location: southern tip of FL, Mexico Climate: tropics – frequent rainfall Climate: tropics – frequent rainfall Elevation: low and high Elevation: low and high Specific Info: plant species may be useful for medicinal purposes Specific Info: plant species may be useful for medicinal purposes

12. Rocky Mountain Forest Location: band from British Columbia to southern Mexico Location: band from British Columbia to southern Mexico Climate: dry, temperate Climate: dry, temperate Elevation: relatively high Elevation: relatively high Specific Info: pines used in paper production Specific Info: pines used in paper production

13. Pacific Coast Forest Location: Alaska to California coastal region Location: Alaska to California coastal region Climate: two zones: east and west of mountains Climate: two zones: east and west of mountains Specific Info: most productive forest on continent Specific Info: most productive forest on continent