Forest resources of Puerto Rico

Peter A. Franco; Peter Weaver; Susan Eggen-McIntosh

doi:10.2737/SRS-RB-22

Treesearch

Forest resources of Puerto Rico

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Peter A. Franco, Peter Weaver, Susan Eggen-McIntosh

Year:

1997

Type:

Resource Bulletin

Station:

Southern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/SRS-RB-22

Source:

Resour. Bull. SRS–22. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 45 p.

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Abstract

The principal findings of the second forest survey of Puerto Rico (1990) and changes that have occurred since the survey was established in 1980 are presented. The forest inventory estimates describe the timber resource found within the potential commercial region designated in the first survey. The timber resource addressed consists primarily of regrown areas on abandoned pastures and cropland, including coffee production areas. The status and trends of the timber resource are presented for the two Life Zones occurring in the commercial region, as well as for various forest classes, which are based on stand history and origin. Topics discussed include forest area, timberland area, basal area, species composition, timber volume, growing-stock volume, and sawtimber volume. Results of the 1990 survey are promising, showing increases in numbers of trees across all diameter classes and substantial increases in volume. These trends offer evidence that Puerto Rico's forest are continuing to recover following a dramatic decline of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Citation

Franco, Peter A.; Weaver, Peter L.; Eggen-McIntosh, Susan. 1997. Forest resources of Puerto Rico. Resour. Bull. SRS–22. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 45 p.