Learn: Forest Facts

• The average tree takes in 1.4 pounds of carbon dioxide and gives off a pound of oxygen for every pound of wood grown. Carbon is stored in wood. That means the tree will trap this carbon until it burns or decays.
• The United States has 738 million acres of forestland.
• Total Forest Growth exceeds the amount harvested each year since the 1940's
• Annual hardwood growth rate surpasses harvest by 70 percent.
• Each year 1.7 billion trees are planted in the United States - more than five trees for every man, woman and child in America - an average of 4.8 million seedlings each day.
• Scientists estimate lumber manufacturing consumes just 4% of the energy used by all raw materials manufacturerers. Steel and concrete manufacturers consume 56%. A steel stud requires 21 times as much energy to produce and releases 15 times the sulfur dioxide as a wood 2x4. Producing concrete emits up to 3 times more carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon that lumber producation.

To learn more forest facts explore this Web site, interactive games, multimedia assets, and reports.

 

Forest Facts Multimedia |Curriculum Guide

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