Resources for Activity 1: Adopt-A-Forest

Overview
Forests support a diversity of plants and animals that vary according to the geographic location of the forest. In this activity, students will identify a section of a local forest or wooded area to study and investigate the types of plants and animals that live there. Through this investigation, students will identify the biological and structural diversity within a forest ecosystem.

Subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Math, Vocational Agriculture.

Student Pages
Adopt-a-Forest Profile
A Look at Competition
Forest Stratification and Life Zones
Forest Inventory Chart
Diagram of a Rotting Log
Rotting Log Data Collection Sheet

Urban and Community Forestry Website Connections
www.plt.org/cms/urbanforestry

Additional Resources
Tales from Urban Forests: A Radio Series on How Trees are Impacting a City Near You

Alliance for Community Trees: Supports grassroots efforts dedicated to urban and community tree planting, care, conservation, and education

"What Happened to Our Village Green?"  Article by C.E. Hunt, Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Earth & Sky Radio Correlations
This activity can be supplemented with related Earth & Sky radio shows that you can download for use in your classroom. Learn about the PLT and Earth & Sky Initiative.

Related Earth & Sky Shows:
- Robert Bonnie Says Agreement Protects Both Wildlife and Landowners (2008)
- Neil Sampson: 'We depend on forests every day' (2008)  
- Jo Pierce: 'Private forests mean income, and much more' (2008)  
- Jo Pierce’s Tree Farm Sustained with Careful, Long-term thinking  (2008) 
- Robert Bonnie on Financial Incentives for Preserving Forests (2008) 
- Neil Sampson Says Climate Change Speeding Flux of Forest Ecosystems (2008) 
- Sally Collins, with an Overview of U.S. Forests in the Early 21st Century (2008) 
- Sally Collins: 6,000 Acres of Open Land Lost to Development Daily (2008)