Identification & Gathering of Forest Resources
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Arizona's White Mountains
It enables a person to acquire a closer relationship with the delicate balance of the forest ecosystem as well as a recapitulation with his pioneer heritage. The opportunities for obtaining berries, firewood, Christmas trees, and other forest resources are varied and dispersed throughout the Lakeside Ranger District. Plant identification, as a type of outdoor recreation experience, is always enhanced with guide book usage for positive identification of plants and wildflowers. Since plant identification is a pastime that everyone can enjoy, the user should exercise discretion in making the decision to actually gather plants. Because fragile alpine and meadow areas located on the District harbor rare and possibly endangered species, plant regeneration may be a very slow, if not impossible, process once the plants are gathered. Visitors should be aware that gathering wildflowers and shrubs in picnic areas, campgrounds, and developed recreation sites is prohibited. Since rapid recovery is limited, one should consider leaving the shrubs and wildflowers undisturbed so that visitors to the National Forest lands can appreciate them in their natural state. The gathering activities in the following pages offer the opportunity for you to become acquainted with the availability and general location of the various forest resources and will provide information concerning proper procedures for gathering these resources. Trees Grow your own trees and check out our tree seed sources! Seeds Online is the place to go at www.seedsonline.com For more
information, please feel free to contact the Be sure to check with the Lakeside Ranger Station for current
information White Mountains Online wishes to express our appreciation to the USDA Forest Service, Lakeside District for providing this information! |
Gathering
of forest resources was once a way of life for many of our forefathers. The
previous generations remember gathering as a necessity rather than for
recreational purposes. Today, however, it is enjoyed by most as a recreational
forest activity often shared with such adventures as