Forests of Ohio

ODNR-Division of Forestry
Ohio State University Extension

Ohio's Diverse Forests

Ohio is considered to be part of the Appalachian Hardwood Region based on the type of trees common in the state. There are more than 100 hardwood and 25 softwood tree species growing in Ohio. In addition to shrubs, there are more than 300 different woody species found in Ohio's forests. Some of the most diverse temperate region forests in North America are found in Ohio. The Survey estimated that there are more than 65 billion trees and shrubs on the 7.9 million acres of forests, for an average of more than 8,000 woody stems per acre. There are more than 1 billion trees 5 inches dbh (diameter breast high) and larger.

Though there are a great many species, between 10 and 20 tree species comprise the majority of all trees in Ohio forests. By volume, six species groups account for two-thirds of all trees. The most abundant species are the red and white oaks, which make up almost 25 percent of the total tree volume, followed by red and sugar maple, which comprise 18 percent. Yellow poplar and hickory make up another 18 percent, and white ash accounts for 8 percent.

There was a noticeable change in the relative composition of growing stock (trees of all sizes) since the 1979 survey. Whereas the red and white oaks made up 32 percent of the total wood volume in 1979, they accounted for only 25 percent by 1991. At the same time, the maples increased from 13 percent in 1979 to 18 percent by 1991.

Certain tree species in the forest grow near one another due to several factors such as soil type and terrain (hills or bottom land). For example, sugar maple, beech, and yellow birch grow in similar conditions and are considered a separate forest type.

In Ohio, there are 43 different forest types. Within the major forest type known as oak/hickory, for example, there are as many as 14 different forest types.

Forest land is also classified according to the size of the trees. A hardwood sawtimber stand contains commercial species 11 inches dbh and larger. A poletimber stand contains commercial species at least 5 inches dbh. Saplings are trees less than 5 inches dbh. As illustrated in the chart above, Ohio's forests are maturing. Currently, 53 percent of the forest is classified as sawtimber, compared to only 42 percent in 1979. The major forest type represented in each standsize classification is the oak/hickory group. Fifty-nine percent of Ohio forest land is the oak/hickory forest type. Only 4 percent, or a little more than 300,000 acres, is considered pure or mixed conifer types.