Missouri Department of Conservation

What makes a healthy forest?

Biological diversity

From the oak/hickory savannas down through the Ozarks and the Bootheel’s tupelo swamps, Missouri’s forests are complex ecosystems and they are vital to our state’s overall well-being. Wildlife depend on them for habitat, and we humans depend on them for food, fiber, recreation, water quality and economic stability. A variety of factors affect their health.

Probably the biggest key to forest health is diversity. A multitude of different kinds of plants, animals and microorganisms, as well as natural processes such as fire, maintain the healthy forest ecosystem. Careful management and harvesting also sustain the healthy forest ecosystem. Some things that hurt forest health are pests, diseases and exotic invasive species such as the Asian longhorn beetle and the gypsy moth. In the past, over-harvesting was a major impact on forest health, especially in the Ozarks. Today, some oak/hickory forests are declining naturally, a process that can be aggravated by a combination of factors, such as age, drought and pollution.

Throughout the state, the Department is involved in a number of programs and projects designed to sustain Missouri’s forests for future generations. If you want to get involved in the Department’s efforts to protect forest health, consider joining the Forestkeepers Network.