Trees Are a Crop!

There are more trees in the United States today than there were when the original European settlers landed nearly five centuries ago. Why is this the case? Because until settlers reached the mid-west, the Native American tribes made a habit of purposefully and meticulously destroying every tree they could find.

This was not a vicious effort on the part of Native Americans. No, for them it was a matter of survival. They wished to see the buffalo prosper, and they knew that the buffalo needed wide open ranges. Thus, they burned and chopped and gutted.

When settlers moved west over the plains they began to plant trees for shade and wind protection. City dwellers began what has become known as "urban forests". Yes, timber was clear cut, but over time, the areas that were cut filled back in and became as verdant and vibrant as ever they had been.

Today trees are planted and harvested. In some regions of the country, trees can be harvested and replaced on a 25 to 30 year cycle. Management of this resource is no less important than managing our farmland. Some old growth forests need to be maintained for ecological purposes, but such measures can be (and frequently are) taken to an extreme. Sufficient old-growth forests are preserved in our National Parks.

National Forests, as distinct from National Parks, were set up to manage our natural resources. Wood has always been seen as a vital resource, and these areas were always meant to be harvested. Certain environmental groups act as if an area that has been cut never comes back. The fact is, trees can and always do come back. Trees are planted; trees are harvested; then they are planted again.

Trees make our lives pleasant in many ways. They provide shade, a windbreak, shelter in a storm, beauty on a summers day, a book to read, a newspaper to peruse, a roof overhead, a dock to fish from, a boat, a handle for our gardening tool, chairs, tables, cabinets and so much more. Trees are a crop with so many uses. Let us use them wisely.