- Many oak species that are most valuable for wildlife are very shade intolerant. This means they must have open sunlight to regenerate and grow. In other words, they do not reproduce under other trees in a forest. This physiological trait can and has resulted in the loss of good hardwood forests for wildlife.
- Thinning or harvesting trees allows sunlight to reach the ground aiding in the growth of young trees.
- An acre of young, healthy trees will produce 4,280 pounds of oxygen and capture 5,880 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere per year.
- Over 13 million acres in the United States are old forests. (Over 200 years old). 8 million acres of those old forests are protected by law and
cannot be cut.
- Dead & dying trees in old forests use up more oxygen than
they produce. The decay process requires oxygen use.
- Cutting trees responsibly lessens the *Greenhouse* Effect on the
environment because old and dying trees use more oxygen than they produce and begin emitting carbon dioxide.
- Young, healthy trees scrub the atmosphere of carbon dioxide.
- More than 3 billion trees are planted in the United States per year.
- Scientists estimate that there are 230 billion trees in the United States.
- There are 82% more hardwoods in the United States today than 40 years ago.
- Each year, there are six trees planted for every one tree cut.
- Hardwoods are used for making over 10,000 products.
- Trees are biodegradable, renewable, recyclable, and very friendly to the
environment.
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