Trees are the dominant plant type of New England, with forests covering most of the land area. This survey course will address identification and natural history of individual species as well as forest ecology. Since understanding today’s forests requires familiarity with their history, we will review the changing landscape from the Ice Age through European settlement. Students will learn to identify native New England trees and their habitats, to recognize different aged stands – pioneer, second growth, and other growth – and become familiar with forest communities of the northeastern temperate region. We’ll consider the natural conditions and human disturbance factors that produce the different forest associations. Field trips will take us to a variety of forest types.