Something to think about. If resources can be classified into two groups (natural and artificial), then pine plantations are either natural or artificial resources. I find that most foresters agree that pine plantations are established with artificial regeneration. I also find that many non-foresters classify both corn fields and pine plantation as artificial resources. However, many of my U.S. colleagues claim corn fields are artificial but pine plantations are "natural" resources. I believe pine plantations are established by man and this qualifies them as an "artificial" resource. Many are planted in rows and are established with genetically improved seedlings. In some countries pines are exotics. I wonder if U.S. foresters believe they are "natural" because they graduated from a "School of Natural Resources." The following shows how I would classify various resources. NATURAL RESOURCES ARTIFICIAL RESOURCES sunshine neon lighting oxygen acetylene copper bronze crude oil gasoline sand glass uranium plutonium guano anhydrous ammonia bottomland hardwood forest pine plantation wild turkey Butterball turkey wild maize hybrid corn The World Book Encyclopedia (1959 edition) states that : there are seven principal classes of natural resources: sunshine, air, water, soil, minerals, forests, and wildlife. David South School of Forestry Auburn University, AL 36849-5418 dsouth@forestry.auburn.edu 205-844-1022 205-844-1084 (FAX)
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