Forests
A waltz, a mule, a president. That's Missouri to most people in the United States. But the Show-Me State has something more that makes it great--it has forests.
Missouri is one of America's great forested states, ranking seventh of the 20 northeastern states in the amount of forest land. Forests cover about a third of the state--forests containing some of the finest oak, walnut, pine and red cedar found anywhere.
Forests are Missouri's greatest renewable resource, providing many economic, environmental and social benefits. They protect hillsides from erosion, keeping streams and rivers clean. They filter the air, soften the extremes of the weather and add beauty to cities and towns. Much of Missouri's recreation and tourism industry is centered in the forested regions of the state. And forests are a diverse resource of plants, animals, birds and other life forms.
Forest Products are also important to Missouri. harvesting and processing trees into wood products gives thousands of people jobs and contributes about $3 billion each year to Missouri's economy.
The Missouri Department of Conservation, the U.S. Forest Service and many private landowners are all working together to improve Missouri's forest resource through good management.
This Web page tells about the exploitation of Missouri's forests at the turn of the century, how wise forest management has created the many forest values we enjoy today and how foresters will maintain these values in the future.
The changes in the colors of leaves are the result of chemical processes which take place in the tree as it prepares for winter.
Missouri's forests have made a remarkable recovery. By the early 1900s, nearly every acre of the vast Ozark forest was cut for firewood, lumber and crops. The forests were depleted, and the region was economically and ecologically ruined.
Three groups own the commercial forest land in Missouri--the federal government, state and local governments, and private landowners.
This page contains definitions of forest related terms and contact information for additional resources.
Learn interesting facts about Missouri's forests and how it relates to the history that Missouri's forests have provided.
Early explorers of the Missouri territory found a blend of landscapes rich with the essentials of frontier life - wood, water, and wildlife. Forests covered 70 percent of the state with an astonishing variety of tree species.
Forests are more than trees. They are also the animals that make the forests their homes, and the birds that nest in the tree tops. They are the clear woodland springs and streams and the fish that live in them. Find out all the ways forests work for wildlife and people, too.
Missouri's forest and wildlife resources have made a remarkable recovery from the ravages of the early 20th century. Forest fire control, harvesting of defective trees, and reforestation have all resulted in the quality forest Missourians now enjoy.
There is something about a big tree that commands interest, respect and a certain amount of awe. Trees are the largest and oldest living organisms. This page details the requirements for a Missouri State Champion Tree.
A detailed look at the structure of leaves.
No, Jack Frost is not the culprit. Some leaves change color weeks before the first icy nights.
