The Empire State
Welcome to New York!
Since the time the glaciers receded thousands of years ago, New York State has been covered in dense forests. For hundreds of years, the trees grew undisturbed, and served as a wonderful habitat for many woodland animals, including white-tailed deer, moose, black bears, beavers, bobcats, and eastern cougars. The Adirondack and Catskill Mountains, the Hudson River, Niagara Falls, rolling hills, and steep gorges are all part of the beautiful landscape of New York State.
Native American people, primarily the Iroquois and Algonquians, lived in and used the forests of New York for survival. They took the straight trunks and bark of the trees for building longhouses, and hunted and gathered in the forests for food. They even learned how to tap the maple trees for syrup! Although they cut trees and took things from the forests, they kept a good balance between the needs of nature and the needs of humans.
In the early 1600’s the first European settlers arrived in New York and started to build their homes. As the years passed, more people came to New York, and soon the thick forests seemed to stand in the way of progress for the early settlers. Trees needed to be cut to make room for cropland, and to supply building materials for new settlements. By the 1800’s much of the forested land had been cleared.
In addition to humans cutting trees, many forests in New York have also become unhealthy. Just like people, trees are living things and can also catch illnesses. Many forests have become sick or died because of new diseases, harmful insects and fungus, and acid rain. Scientists and foresters are working hard to help protect trees from all of these harmful things, but it takes a lot of work to keep a forest healthy.
People living in New York State today recognize how important forests are to both people and the environment. Although New York still has many big cities and lots of farms, the number of trees in the state has doubled in the last 200 years. People are planting more diverse and native trees, protecting old growth forests, practicing selective cutting, and trying to keep the air and water clean. As long as people continue to care and learn about trees, the forests of New York can continue to grow and make life healthier and happier for everyone.
Since the time the glaciers receded thousands of years ago, New York State has been covered in dense forests. For hundreds of years, the trees grew undisturbed, and served as a wonderful habitat for many woodland animals, including white-tailed deer, moose, black bears, beavers, bobcats, and eastern cougars. The Adirondack and Catskill Mountains, the Hudson River, Niagara Falls, rolling hills, and steep gorges are all part of the beautiful landscape of New York State.
Native American people, primarily the Iroquois and Algonquians, lived in and used the forests of New York for survival. They took the straight trunks and bark of the trees for building longhouses, and hunted and gathered in the forests for food. They even learned how to tap the maple trees for syrup! Although they cut trees and took things from the forests, they kept a good balance between the needs of nature and the needs of humans.
In the early 1600’s the first European settlers arrived in New York and started to build their homes. As the years passed, more people came to New York, and soon the thick forests seemed to stand in the way of progress for the early settlers. Trees needed to be cut to make room for cropland, and to supply building materials for new settlements. By the 1800’s much of the forested land had been cleared.
In addition to humans cutting trees, many forests in New York have also become unhealthy. Just like people, trees are living things and can also catch illnesses. Many forests have become sick or died because of new diseases, harmful insects and fungus, and acid rain. Scientists and foresters are working hard to help protect trees from all of these harmful things, but it takes a lot of work to keep a forest healthy.
People living in New York State today recognize how important forests are to both people and the environment. Although New York still has many big cities and lots of farms, the number of trees in the state has doubled in the last 200 years. People are planting more diverse and native trees, protecting old growth forests, practicing selective cutting, and trying to keep the air and water clean. As long as people continue to care and learn about trees, the forests of New York can continue to grow and make life healthier and happier for everyone.