FAQs Explore the forestry facts and traditions that bring the Capitol Christmas Tree to life.

Brought to you by the Society of American Foresters, the organization that represents forestry professionals and advances sustainable management of forest resources through science, education, and technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree and Society of American Foresters’ FAQ Page. Here you can learn more about this year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, how trees and forests are managed in the United States, and the community of forestry professionals that care for them.

What is the tradition of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree?
Where will this year’s tree come from?
Where can I see the tree?

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, along with handmade ornaments and tree skirts, will make its journey to Washington, D.C., for the official tree lighting ceremony at our nation’s capital. The smaller ornaments and tree skirts will be used to decorate locally sourced companion trees at federal offices in Washington, D.C.

Follow the route online at www.uscapitolchristmastree.com, and on social media platforms at @uscapitolchristmastree on Facebook and Instagram.
Who created this year’s logo and what does it represent?
Where do Christmas trees grow?

Many people in the United States look forward to celebrating Christmas on December 25, and Christmas trees are important for these celebrations. Before decorating them with ornaments and lights, families visit tree farms and national forests to pick their favorite trees like balsams, spruces, pines, or firs. This helps to account for the more than 25 million Christmas trees harvested in the U.S. each year.

Various climates are suitable for growing Christmas trees. These trees are usually conifers, or evergreen trees, which retain their needles during the fall and winter months. Different species of fir, pine, and spruce are cultivated as Christmas trees in every U.S. state, thriving particularly well in areas with long, sunny summers and cool, moist winters.

While the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is sourced from a national forest, most Christmas trees sold in the U.S. come from private tree farms. These trees are cultivated like other agricultural crops. Farmers plant tree seedlings in organized rows or natural stands and typically grow them for an average of seven years. Approximately 98 percent of Christmas trees used each year are grown on farms as sustainable crops, much like apples or pumpkins.
Where can I find my own Christmas tree?

Celebrating the holiday season with a real tree is a long-standing tradition, and selecting a tree is a fun and memorable outdoor experience for the family. Getting a real Christmas tree provides opportunities to support local businesses, learn about biology and living things, and embark on an outdoor family adventure. Trees are fully recyclable and biodegradable. In most urban and suburban areas, Christmas trees are collected curbside, and trees are chipped and made into mulch so it can help something else – even more trees, playgrounds, or walking trails!

You can start your search for a local Christmas tree farm at the National Christmas Tree Association’s tree finder webpage here. You can also venture out into most national forests to find your own. To learn more about finding a tree from your local woods and to obtain a permit, visit www.recreation.gov/tree-permits or call your local National Forest.
What should the public know about the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests?

The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests magnificent landscapes are only matched by its economic productivity and rich history. The forests produce valuable timber, host numerous outfitter and guide businesses, and provide grazing land, minerals, and recreational opportunities cherished by Idahoans.

These resources are key to its rich human history. The forests are the heart of the Nez Perce Tribe’s homeland and include the areas where the Tribe provided crucial aid in the form of food, ecological knowledge, and timber that sustained Lewis and Clark when they were at their lowest point. The forests’ mineral riches stoked the Idaho Gold Rush and its wild places inspired the creation of the Wilderness Act and smokejumping.

The forests exemplify Idaho at its finest. Their rugged landscapes include the deepest canyon in North America, its wildest rivers, and some of its tallest mountains, and densest forests. The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests are honored to share their story with America on its
250th birthday.
What are some examples of other organizations or entities that own and manage forests besides the U.S. Forest Service?

The United States has over 741 million acres of forestland, which is enough trees to cover the entire state of Texas four times! In addition to federal lands, such as national forests and parks, many states manage their own state and local forests. A significant portion of the nation’s forested lands is also owned and managed by private companies, nonprofit organizations, Tribes, families, and individuals.

The federal government owns and manages 30% of the forests in the United States, while state and local governments account for about 10%. Private individuals and Tribal entities own the remaining 60%. Notably, over 50% of U.S. forestland is held by more than 10 million private owners. Most of these private parcels are family or individually owned, with an average size of less than 25 acres. Source: Forest Inventory and Analysis Program.
Why do we manage our forests?

Forests are dynamic systems, constantly evolving under the influence of various disturbances. Whether a tree is toppled by a storm uprooted by a raging flood, or felled by a saw, each event, what experts call a disturbance, reshapes the forest landscape. Even if left untouched by human hands, forests would undoubtedly look different in the future than they do today.

Humans, too, have played a significant role in shaping forests for millennia. From the deliberate use of fire by Native Americans to cultivate open, park-like settings and manage wildlife, to the extensive logging and land-clearing by early colonial settlers, human interactions with forests have always been transformative. Despite these shifts, trees remain essential to our lives, with the average person in the United States using about 640 pounds of wood annually.

The way forests are managed varies considerably depending on who owns the land. Some forests are dedicated solely to timber production, while others prioritize the preservation of vital habitats. Many forests are managed with a blend of objectives: timber harvesting, recreational opportunities, wildlife preservation, and aesthetic enjoyment. For example, national parks and wildlife refuges prohibit commercial timber harvesting, emphasizing recreation instead. In contrast, Tribes, private companies, or families may grow trees specifically for wood products.

The past two centuries have seen intensive management of many forested areas across the United States. Effective and adaptive forest management has become critical to ensuring the long-term health and vitality of these invaluable ecosystems.
Can you tell me more about the benefits of trees and forests?

Forests are vital to life on Earth. They act as natural water filters, replenish our oxygen supply, and serve as crucial habitats for countless species. These living ecosystems also absorb atmospheric carbon, helping regulate our climate. Beyond their environmental contributions, forests provide sustainable resources for products we use daily, such as lumber, paper, furniture, and green energy. They also fuel economies and support families through forest-related jobs, while offering us beautiful spaces for recreation and renewal. Protecting and preserving our forests is therefore essential for a healthy planet and thriving communities.
Why is fire important in forest management?
Fire, a natural disturbance inherent to most woodlands, rangelands, and grasslands, has also served as a valuable tool for humans to manage diverse ecosystems. Wildland fires encompass a spectrum of events, from controlled, low-severity prescribed burns to extensive, high-severity wildfires. Similar to other natural disturbances like windstorms or hurricanes, fire has significantly shaped the American landscape.

For millennia, the natural development and structure of Western conifer forests and associated deciduous woodlands have been inextricably linked to wildfire regimes. However, a shift occurred in the early 20th century with the widespread implementation of wildfire suppression activities across Western forests and other federal lands. This suppression altered historical fire regimes, impacting forest structure and health.

Beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s, fire management began to evolve as land managers recognized that past suppression efforts had contributed to the escalating size, intensity, and duration of wildfires and longer wildfire season, exacerbating their impact. This was also amplified by a combination of other factors such as an increase in construction and human development in the wildland urban interface, changes in forest management practices, invasive annual grasses, and more persistent drought conditions since the 1970s. As of 2025, fire’s crucial role in forest management continues to be re-evaluated as strategies adapt to better mitigate wildfire risk and restore fire-adapted ecosystems.

Most recently, land management agencies in Nevada have collaborated on planning and implementing the Nevada Cohesive Strategy to prevent, respond to, and thrive in high wildfire danger areas. The strategy includes three tenets that guide the agencies’ plans and actions:

Conserve, enhance, and protect resilient landscapes that can withstand wildfire, insects, and other threats while maintaining ecological health and function.

Support the development of fire adapted communities that can withstand and survive wildfire events without significant suppression support.

Sustain safe and effective wildfire response that can keep wildfires as small as possible with properly equipped firefighting forces.

Nevada’s diverse ecosystems, from the towering Sierra Nevada forests to the sprawling pinyon-juniper woodlands and rangelands of the Basin and Range, depend on fire as a vital natural management force. When executed under planned conditions, prescribed fire becomes an indispensable tool that actively reduces hazardous fuel loads, revitalizes wildlife habitats, replenishes soil nutrients, and stimulates vigorous plant regeneration. Under carefully managed conditions, even natural wildfires can bestow similar ecological advantages. However, the destructive consequences of uncontrolled wildfires, whether naturally ignited or human-caused, demand extensive and lengthy recovery efforts.
Who manages our forests?

Foresters are the unsung heroes of healthy forests, making critical decisions about how these vital ecosystems thrive. These professionals possess a blend of scientific knowledge – covering everything from tree health, water cycles, and soil quality to wildlife protection and sustainable resource management – alongside practical experience gained through diverse educational backgrounds.

Beyond academic achievements, foresters often need specific licenses and certifications to oversee forest management activities in many states. The field demands a commitment to continuous learning, as professionals must stay abreast of the latest scientific advancements and technologies to ensure responsible and effective forest stewardship.

The Society of American Foresters takes pride in the fact that its members have contributed to the stewardship and conservation of forests for nearly 125 years. Professionals, forests, and sustainability are interconnected as we continually strive to learn and push ourselves to utilize the best available science and research in the management of our forests.
What does urban forestry focus on?

With 95% of Nevadans living in urban areas, urban forestry is essential for managing and expanding tree canopy where people live, work, and play. These trees provide vital environmental, social, and economic benefits, and their canopy is a crucial form of green infrastructure that improves community quality of life. Nevada’s urban foresters focus on growing the tree canopy along city streets, in parks, and increasingly on private property.

However, cities like Reno and Las Vegas are among the fastest-warming in the United States, yet they have low tree canopy coverage—around 5% and 9%, respectively. This lags behind the U.S. Forest Service’s 15% recommendation for the intermountain west. Collaborating with government bodies, non-profits, volunteers, and the development community is critical to expanding the canopy.

As the driest state, Nevada faces unique challenges in expanding its urban forest. Urban foresters must select diverse, climate-tolerant species that can withstand the heat and drought while also resisting pests and diseases. The state’s dry climate means most tree plantings require irrigation, making them more costly and difficult than in wetter regions.

Improving urban forests depends on retaining existing mature trees and requiring forward-thinking growth. High housing volatility presents another challenge; in renter-occupied units, particularly in cities like Reno where over half of units are rentals, residents have less long-term investment in tree care. This can increase tree mortality, especially since large shade trees take decades to mature.

Given Nevada’s rapid growth, a major opportunity lies in requiring sustainable landscaping that includes large, drought-tolerant shade trees in new developments. Urban forestry professionals must navigate a challenging political environment to reach these goals.
How has land use and management changed over time in Nevada?

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