Forest Trees and Types

Tree identification: There are many fine tree, plant, and animal identification field guides available as books or online. Here are more details on some of the many California conifer species:

• Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
• Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta)
• Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)
• Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)
• Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum)

Redwood forests:

The proceedings of the 2004, 2011, and 2016 Coast Redwood Forests Symposia are available for free download here.

Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forests:

An Ecosystem Management Strategy for Sierran Mixed-Conifer Forests (PSW-GTR-220 in 2009) suggests managers produce different stand structures and densities across the landscape using topographic variables (i.e., slope shape, aspect, and slope position) as a guide for varying treatments. Management recommendations emphasize the ecological role of fire, changing climate conditions, sensitive wildlife habitat, and the importance of forest structure heterogeneity.

Managing Sierra Nevada Forests (Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-237 in 2012). This collection of papers presents information and applications relevant to implementation of the concepts presented in GTR 220.

University of  resources

Forest Health and Carbon Storage in the Sierra Nevada - System Indicators: A final report to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, December 2012. This reports on the status of Sierra Nevada forests from the standpoint of health, fire and carbon storage.

Trees and shrubs of California by John Stuart and John Sawyer. This book combines the trees and shrubs of California in one accessible field guide. (order)

Other Resources:

Conifers of California by Ronald Lanner describes and glorifies the 52 native species of conifers found in California including the world's largest pine (Sugar pine), the world's tallest (redwood), the world's most massive (giant sequoia), and the world's longest-lived tree (Great Basin bristlecone pine).

The Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo has tree identification and selection tools on its website.

The CalFlora website allows users to search for for plant information by common and scientific name.