National Tree Coverage Maps?

[storl]

Anyone have any idea where I can find maps that show what kinds of trees grow where in the US? I want to buy some land (100+ acres) up in the PNW someday, and I am trying to find some that has some interesting trees to wander around in. I tried the US Forest Service, Google, and the other usual suspects and came up with nothing.

 

[lambertiana]

I assume you are talking about lowland forest on the west slopes of the Cascades. With the long history of logging and tree farming, you would have to inspect the particular lot. Maps showing native trees would show what could potentially be there, but previous human activity will impact the actual tree distribution significantly. It is possible to find douglas fir, pacific silver fir, grand fir, noble fir, sitka spruce, western white pine, etc, in various parts of the west slopes of the Cascades, depending on location and topography. All of them are magnificent trees, reaching 150-250' in old growth forests.

 

[storl]

I assume you are talking about lowland forest on the west slopes of the Cascades. With the long history of logging and tree farming, you would have to inspect the particular lot. Maps showing native trees would show what could potentially be there, but previous human activity will impact the actual tree distribution significantly. It is possible to find douglas fir, pacific silver fir, grand fir, noble fir, sitka spruce, western white pine, etc, in various parts of the west slopes of the Cascades, depending on location and topography. All of them are magnificent trees, reaching 150-250' in old growth forests.

Yeah, that's exactly the kind of maps I am looking for, so I at least have a general idea of where to look.

It seems like the PNW has a lot of coniferous trees. What's the deciduous tree distribution like?

 

[norcalblacktail]

Storl:

No maps that I know of but Ill check.

In the meantime heres a few sites that will help you.

http://oregonstate.edu/trees/
http://www.arborday.org/trees/whattree/westerntrees.cfm

This is a good little field guide also
http://books.google.com/books?id=DQ3x_gQvveUC&dq=western+trees&printsec=frontcover&source=in&hl=en&ei=wneWSfnCLIGStQOA9q2EAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=11&ct=result#PPP1,M1

 

[Trent Rock]

I use this sometimes===>
http://www.efloras.org/browse.aspx?flora_id=1

I know there are some state programs that GIVE YOU "native" trees to plant
I know Colorado has such a program........

http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/B987/Medium-large-trees.htm

http://www.gnps.org/plantpages/index.html

http://www.gnps.org/resources/nativenurseries.html

Plant some Red Maple and use the wood for hatchet handles!!:thumbup:


Not sure what the PNW is
I looked for Georgia trees....

 

[cssims]

PNW=Pacific North West

 

[mapper66]

Here is one that will give you a PDF when you pick the species:

http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/data/atlas/little/

got that from a google of 'tree species distribution maps'

 

[storl]

Here is one that will give you a PDF when you pick the species:

http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/data/atlas/little/

got that from a google of 'tree species distribution maps'

Perfect, thank you! That is exactly what I was looking for. I saw one for birch a long time ago and hadn't seen one since.

 

[abo4ster]

If you are looking for land, suggest you find the forest cover type that interests you most as a starting point. There are generally maps about cover type in field guides of a specific region, i.e., Audubon Field Guide for Oregon (or PNW). Within it will be a description of each cover type and/or live zone if there is large changes in elevation.

Here is general U.S. Forest Cover Type map...

http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/misc_reston.pdf