They can do what they want with their private lands. Oak trees, especially red oaks, are among the most valuable commercial trees in West Virginia. Oaks are also important for wildlife, providing plenty of acorns for animals to eat. And most people enjoy walking in the woods and just looking at big, old oak trees. But oaks are among the trees that could be in trouble, according to the Forestry Division's study.
Foresters separate oaks into four classifications.
They are select red oaks, select white oaks, other red oaks, and other white oaks. Between 1989 and 1995, three of the four classes of oaks declined in volume. Total oak volume dropped by nearly 1 billion board feet over the period, or more than 140 million board feet a year. One oak classification, select white oaks, showed an average annual increase in volume. That increase, however, was only 33 million board feet a year.