Over the past century, forest coverage has expanded 28 percent in Northern states, according to a report by the U.S. Forest Service released Monday.
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Over the past century, forest coverage has expanded 28 percent in Northern states, according to a report by the U.S. Forest Service released Monday.
The Forest Service said the region is benefiting from carbon emissions collection, water filtration and forestry jobs. Forestland now accounts for 42 percent of the area comprising Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Underscoring the significance of the increase is the fact that forest coverage expanded from 134 to 172 million acres while the population in those states grew from 52 million to 124 million.
The report is the first product of the Northern Forest Futures Project, a cooperative effort of the Forest Service, the Northeastern Area Association of State Foresters and academics; the project is examining how trends and choices may impact the landscapes of Northern states. Partners in the cooperative hope to influence decisions regarding the protection and sustainable management of public and private forests.
Researchers determined that 441,000 people in Northern states work in the forestry, logging, wood products, and pulp and paper industries, accounting for about 40 percent of all U.S. jobs in these sectors.
"While it's heartening to see our Northern forests thriving in great times of change, we should also use this report as a reminder to remain vigilant about working together across all lands to make sure these positive trends continue," said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. "Forests have rebounded over the last century, but there are significant threats that could undo many of the gains. Forest Service research, including a study released in 2010, have already indicated this. Our future research will delve more deeply into those threats."
"The Northern Forests Futures Project will give landowners across the entire spectrum, from industry to states to non-government organizations and concerned residents, the knowledge they need to develop strategies for sustaining the forests that dominate our landscape and our history," according to Michael T. Rains, director of the Northern Research Station.