Do American forest parks and services replant trees that are clearcut?

Question

I've heard that fur trees are replanted and take about 20 years, but how long would it take for a pine tree to fully grow? I actually think all trees that are cut down for human use should have to be replaced, what do you think?

Answer 1

It isn't the government entity of the Forest Service that replants the trees, it's the logging companies themselves.  

Think about it:  The logging companies are assuring that they have trees to cut in the future, because trees are a renewable resource.  Cut one down today, plant more than the one you remove in its place, and in the future, you'll have yet another tree to cut down.

Further, with each tree that grows, it removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and sequesters that carbon in the wood as part of its substance.  Then, when the tree is cut down and used as lumber in homes, furniture, and other "stuff" that's constructed from wood, that carbon isn't released back into the atmosphere.  

A healthy forest plan - one that utilizes the trees in a responsible manner - is actually good for the environment...

...unless you're one of those people who seem to think that what's better for the forests and environment, is to take a "hands off" approach thereby allowing the fuel load in forests to overload and result in a catastrophic wildfire that destroys everything in the forest - AND releases literally billions of tons of carbon dioxide, soot, and other particulates into the atmosphere in the form of smoke...

Answer 2

The two answers above are mostly correct. In some areas of the US however, planting actually isn't necessary. For example, in the North East, if you don't mow your law for a couple of years (or replant crops), it will naturally revert to forest in no time at all. In ten years, a clearcut in the northeast is almost impossible to walk through because its do thick with (natural) trees. Most forestry applications in the North East use natural regeneration methods to replace trees they have removed. Its a very effective, and healthy, way to maintain a forest.  

In the south, and in the western US, replanting is more popular. It gives the logging companies control over what species will be harvested next time around. Natural regeneration leaves species composition more to chance, and what the local conditions will allow.

On the same note that loggers care about tree replacement, in the Maine, loggers are big advocates of laws the protect land from being harvested, and then sold into house lots (liquidation). That way they can ensure future work for themselves or their children.

Answer 3

Logging and timber companies typically plant at least 20 trees for every tree that they cut down in the US. Trees are a renewable resource and if the logging industry did not replace the trees that they are cutting, they would work themselves right out of a job.