Tree

Trees have great economic significance to humans as a source of food, building materials, and paper. Almond, coconut, cherry, prune, peach, pear, and many other tree species are grown in orchards for their fruits and nuts. The apple tree is the orchard tree of greatest economic significance, and there are several hundred different varieties of apples. (Many of North America's best apples grow in New York state and Washington state.) Many trees are also useful for the wood they produce. Wood is used as a construction material and to make furniture. Wood is a valuable construction material because it is relatively inexpensive, easy to cut, and very strong relative to its weight. Many species of pines and other conifers are important sources of softwoods, and many broadleaf trees are important sources of hardwoods.

There are frequent conflicts between conservationists and loggers. In the United States, the coniferous rainforest of the Pacific northwest has been the site of one such conflict. In this region, loggers want to harvest coniferous trees from the forest just as they have done for many years, whereas conservationists seek to preserve the forest because it provides a habitat for the northern spotted owl, an endangered species.