Carolinian forest
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Carolinian forest is a life zone in eastern North America characterized primarily by a predominance of deciduous, or broad-leaf trees.
It extends from the Carolinas in the United States and finds its northern limit in the southwestern section of Ontario, in Canada.
The region is of particular importance in Canada because it provides the country with its most unique and richest abundance of plant and animal life.
Trees such as various species of ash, birch, chestnut, hickory, oak, and walnut are found here. Tallest of all is the tulip tree. Raccoons and possums to the relatively rare southern flying squirrel, as well as nuthatches and chickadees also favour Carolinian forests.
Of concern, is that while less than one percent of Canada's land mass is occupied by this natural habitat, the same area is also home to one-quarter of the country's population.
It is estimated that 80 per cent of Canada's Carolinian forest has already been destroyed. The remaining portions, mostly scattered and disconnected, continue to be threatened by human development.
