16,000 Estimated Tree Species in the Amazon Basin

[Brett Chedzoy]

Peter and I just returned from the Eastern Forest Managers meeting at West Virginia University, where we gleaned lots of neat new ideas from fellow university foresters.  WV's forests are not unlike those of upstate NY - but with some interesting species mixed in that don't quite make it this far north.  Seeing some unfamiliar species made me curious about how many different types of trees naturally occur on our farm in Watkins Glen?  So I made up a quick list over breakfast this morning and came up with 35 "commercial" species (those that could grow to sawtimber size), and roughly an equal number of smaller tree species like hop hornbeam and apple.  Just when I was starting to feel proud of how diverse our woods are, I saw this story on tree species diversity in the Amazon Basin:https://www.morningagclips.com/itll-take-300-yrs-to-find-all-amazon...

Hard to imagine that only 3/4 of the estimated 16,000 tree species in the Amazon have been identified so far! 

[Peter Smallidge]

I had a similar interest in what trees grew in my woods, and a while back adapted a tree list from the Arnot Forest to my property.  I count 35 native trees and shrubs and few that I have planted.  I've attached my list and others are welcome to adapt it to their woods.

[Lewis E. Ward]

Something to think about Brett and Pete. 

I just made a quick list of native tree and shrub species on my 18+ acres on a well watered lateral moraine facing northeast with mostly Howard soil. I listed 37 species. Not too shabby for a small acreage!

[Brett Chedzoy]

I've attached a list of the 35 "sawtimber" species found naturally-occurring on our farm (planted by nature, not by us)

[Lewis E. Ward]

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HEJKLJKppzjybsUEvWkUvqeqButjqLR...