Forest

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-011543",
  "term": "Forest",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Plant communities which exist along floodplains or on the eastern side of rivers where they were protected from fires. They are dominated by trees that are intolerant of fire and can grow in poorly drained soils, although bur oak trees can be a part of this community. In Northeastern Illinois, the word \"forest\" is often used interchangeably with \"woodland\" or \"woods,\" as in the \"Big Woods.\"\n\n2. Terrestrial ecosystem (biome) with enough average annual precipitation (at least 76 centimeters or 30 inches) to support growth of various species of trees and smaller forms of vegetation.\n\n3. Land with at least 10% of its surface area stocked by trees of any size or formerly having had such trees as cover and not currently built-up or developed for agricultural use (USDAFS 1989).\n\n4. Land that has at least 10 percent crown cover by live tally trees of any size or has had at least 10 percent canopy cover of live tally species in the past, based on the presence of stumps, snags, or other evidence. To qualify, the area must be at least 1.0 acre in size and 120.0 feet wide. Forest land includes transition zones, such as areas between forest and nonforest lands that meet the minimal tree stocking/cover and forest areas adjacent to urban and built - up lands. Roadside, streamside, and shelterbelt strips of trees must have a width of at least 120 feet and continuous length of at least 363 feet to qualify as forest land. Unimproved roads and trails, streams, and clearings in forest areas are classified as forest if they are less than 120 feet wide or less than an acre in size. Tree-covered areas in agricultural production settings, such as fruit orchards, or tree - covered areas in urban settings, such as city parks, are not considered forest land.\n\n5. Tract of land thick with trees and underbrush.\n\n6. Concentration of trees and related vegetation in non-urban areas sparsely inhabited by and infrequently used by humans; characterized by natural terrain and drainage patterns.\n\n7. Any operation engaged in the outdoor production of any agricultural plant to produce wood fiber or timber products.",
  "subject": "Climate change",
  "references": [
    "Natural Landscaping Glossary",
    "Greenhouse Gas Emissions",
    "Environmental Modeling and Assessment Program (EMAP) Master Glossary; EMAP Master Glossary",
    "Original Source: https://www.fao.org/3/x0596e/x0596e00.htm; https://www.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/tools/landscape-change-monitoring-system-lcms",
    "40 CFR 503.11 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 171.2 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 170.3 (CFR 2013)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/forest/"
}