Chapter 19 



Commercially Important 

 Forest Types 



Author: David Canavera 



Trees occur in abundance on virtually all of the terrestrial habitats in the 

 characterization area. They are present on all types of terrestrial habitat, 

 from open pine barrens to urban centers and provide suitable habitat for many 

 plant and animal communities. Due to diverse habitat and reproductive 

 requirements, trees of the coastal zones, (a term that will be used 

 synonymously with "characterization area" here) evolved unique adaptive 

 mechanisms to help guarantee their survival (e.g., closed cones in jack pine 

 that open and disperse seeds after fire) . 



Trees have direct economic importance to people. Collectively, the 43 tree 

 species (table 19-1) found in the region are its most important commercial 

 plant crop (see also chapter 9, "The Forest System"). Examples of wood- 

 product industries supplied with raw materials from the coastal zone include: 

 pulp and paper, lumber, veneer, turnings (including lobster traps, pallet 

 stock, and box boards), slack cooperage, fencing, shingles, Christmas trees, 

 wreaths and greens, spruce gum, salad bowls, paddles, bowling pins, log 

 cabins, maple syrup and firewood (Ferguson and Kingsley 1972). 



People have influenced the number and diversity of tree species in the coastal 

 zone by altering habitat conditions (through agriculture, construction, 

 logging, soil moisture drainage, and fire among others) and by harvesting some 

 species (e.g., eastern white pine, red spruce, and paper birch) in greater 

 quantity than others. 



This chapter is designed to familiarize the reader with the commercial forests 

 and common tree species of the coastal zone and to discuss current forestry 

 practices within this region. Emphasis is placed on the impacts (silvicultural 

 and environmental) of these practices. The term forest type as used here is 

 "a descriptive term used to group stands of trees of similar character in 

 regards to composition and development due to certain ecological factors, by 

 which they may be differentiated from other groups of stands" (Society of 

 American Foresters 1964). 



19-1 



10-80 



