Pinon and Juniper Woodlands of the Southwest

Since ancient times the coniferous woodlands of the southwestern United States have supplied quantities of fuel wood, fence posts, poles, and even food for the use of the Indian, Spanish, and American populations. Without these resources development would have been hindered. Depletion of large portions of these extensive woodland stands is now evidenced by changes from original stand conditions and in some localities by the long distances that fuel wood and particularly fence posts are transported. It is not uncommon at present to find fuel wood hauled as far as fifty miles to market or fence posts two to three hundred miles to point of use. Much of this depletion is due not only to heavy demand for fuel wood and posts near centers of population, but to improper methods of harvesting. Fire, insects, and disease have not seriously affected coniferous woodland stands.