Agenda - Council - 10/23/2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I :1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Minnesota Forests The acreage or' Minnesota's forests has greatly decreased since the first European settlers arrived. Then, about 3l..5 million acres of our state's 51.2 million acres were forested. With the development or' agriculture, roads, and cities, forests now cover only about .t6.7 million acres. Fortunately, tree planting and natural succession are restoring some of the previously forested areas. iVlinnesota's forests have immense economic and environmental importance. The production and processing of wood and wood fiber is the second largest manufacturing'industry in Minne- sota. lVlillions of tourists and recreational users are attracted to the beauty and solitude of our ~'orests. Forests also provide habitat for wildlife, protect soils, and renew water resources. And they enhance the appearance o/:' communities and promote health by reducing noise, cutting energy costs, screening unsightly views, and attracting songbirds and other wildlife. Your interest in learning more about trees is a major step toward protecting and enhancing these values. Shade Tolerance, Growth Rate, and Life Span The tree descriptions in this book include remarks about tree uses, habitat, landscape limita- tions, and unique characteristics. They also note shade tolerance, height growth rate prior to maturity, and typical life span. Shade Tolerance Shade tolerance describes the species' ability to establish and survive in various degrees of shade. Shade-intolerant species require full sunlight. Intermediate species can survive in partial shade. Shade-tolerant species can survive in dense shade. These classes not only provide impor- tant species ~election information [or planting, they also can help you differentiate species growing in a shaded forest from those growing in [~tll sunlight. Growth Rate Growd~ rates are based on the height increase oF' a tree growing under average conditions in the Upper Midwest ?riot to maturity. Slow-growing is defined as [2 inches or less per year; moder- ate-growing, 13 to 2,1. inches per year; and fast-growing, 25 inches or more per year. Trees grow continuously, but growth usually slows after maturity. Life Span . Trees are described as short-lived (less than 76 years), intermediate (76 to tS0 years), or long- lived (longer than 150 years). A tree's life span is influenced by many factors (e.g., disease. damagel. Downtown urban trees, for example, on average live only [0 percent as long as trees in rural areas. Therefore, the classes provided should only be viewed as potential ages. 6 Minnesota2r]~]c_s