Red Pine in the Northern Lake States

Abstract

Red pine is an important tree species for the Northern Lake States. About 4 percent of the total area of timberland is dominated by red pine but most other forest types also have red pine as a component. The red pine forest type in the region has dramatically increased in area since the 1930s. Stand-size class distribution of the red pine forest type has changed over time in the region to where currently; sawtimber-sized stands represent 41 percent of the total red pine forest type acreage. Over time the total area of red pine has remained at about 60 percent privately owned. Stocking levels, total number of trees, growing-stock volume, average annual net growth, and average annual removals have all increased over time in this region. Currently, the region's average annual net growth for red pine is five times as high as its removals.

Citation

Schmidt, Thomas L. 2003. Red Pine in the Northern Lake States. In: Gilmore, Daniel W.; Yount, Louise S., eds. Proceedings of the Red Pine SAF Region V Technical Conference; 2002 March 26-27; Cloquet, MN. Staff Pap. Ser. 157. St. Paul, MN: University of Minnesota, Department of Forest Resources, College of Natural Resources: 3-16.