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Forest Ecology 
Throughout our history, trees have played a central
role in our survival. Our ancestors used hickory for their wagons,
white oak for their bridges and ships, and yellow-poplar for their
cabins. They often looked to the forest for food to carry them through
long winters. Our ancestors also feared the forest as a source of
danger. They destroyed forests to remove that fear. We still utilize
our forests to fulfill many needs today, but with a more rational
attitude toward sustaining and appreciating what we have.
Forests today cover one-third of the earth's
total land area, a third of the continental United States, and about
a fifth of Indiana.
The more well-known values provided by the forest,
such as timber products, wildlife, protection of soil and water,
and outdoor recreation, have long been studied and well-documented.
People also benefit from forests in other ways that are not so well
understood but are just as important to quality of life. Forests
provide a clean and comfortable environment.They help remove pollutants
from the air and regulate the amount of carbon
dioxide (a major contributor to global warming) in the atmosphere.
They help moderate excessive noises and temperature extremes. They
are especially important in providing a healthy escape from the
demands of everyday life.
Forests play a vital role in our lives. Not only
do they supply materials for our food and shelter, but they also
contribute to our psychological well-being. Forest settings evoke
a sense of calm and serenity, so much so that the heart rate and
blood pressure decrease in individuals experiencing forest beauty.
People have depended on forests for thousands
of years; and with careful management, forests will continue to
play an important role in our existence in the future.
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