A short walk through an Illinois woodland can provide a glimmer of our state's biotic diversity, especially when you stop to notice the variety of tree species it contains. In fact, tree identification is one of the first steps to seeing the forest for the trees.

Just like animals, plants including trees have a natural habitat. There are several factors which determine the type of plant habitat in a particular part of the state, but the main factor is climate. The type of soil and its depth also affect the growing conditions in a forest and therefore tree habitat. Hills, valleys and low swampy areas can often create microclimates within a forest where particular tree species can grow.

Knowing what tree species are in your woodland, or your backyard can help you manage the habitat conditions to meet the growing requirements of the trees. Additionally, knowing the growing requirements of tree species can help you select a tree species to plant based on the habitat conditions on your property. This is often referred to as silviculture, and arboriculture in urban areas, where foresters are growing trees based on their growth requirements.

Healthy, vigorously growing trees not only produce more woody biomass and oxygen, but are also less likely to be affected by certain tree diseases. Trees also recover from stress caused by insect damage when they are vigorously growing.

Recently a group of forest enthusiasts attended a workshop sponsored by the Moultrie-Douglas Extension Unit to learn about forest management. Tree identification was a large part of the workshop, but other skills taught included tree measurement, compass and pacing and topographic map interpretation.

Workshop participants discovered that many tree diseases and forest insects only affect a particular tree species. While learning how to estimate the board foot volume of a tree, participants also learned that the value of the timber from a tree is based on its species.

The old saying," you have to learn to walk before you can run"' holds true with tree identification and forest management, urban or rural. So as a land owner, small or large, if you want to keep your trees healthy begin by learning what species of trees you have on your property. A tree key and a tree identification book are two tools that will help get you started in your tree identification journey.

If you don't already have a good tree identification book, the University of Illinois Extension is now offering the newest edition of the Forest Trees of Illinois book. This publication focuses on tree species native to Illinois and is available on-line through Pubs Plus at https://pubsplus.uiuc.edu/ .

If you have questions about forest management or would be interested in attending a tree identification and introduction to forestry workshop, contact the University of Illinois Champaign Extension Unit at 217-333-7672.