White oak is one of Illinois’ most valuable trees. It makes an excellent shade tree of majestic beauty with a broad round head and wide spreading branches. Commercially it is an extremely valuable species used for lumber, veneer, barrels, furniture, flooring, and construction.
This species is also a part of our national heritage. In the war of 1812, sailors reported that during battle, cannon balls bounced off the hull of the U.S.S. Constitution. White oak helped make her “Old Ironsides” and a part of our history.
DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
DIVISION OF FORESTRY
The Legislature has given this Division the responsibility for all activities concerning the forest and tree resource of Illinois. The Division strives to fulfill its responsibilities by:
—protecting the resource against all detrimental factors such as fire, insects and diseases, improper harvesting, etc.
—making the public aware of the importance of this resource to the state’s health and economy.
—motivating and providing technical guidance to forest and tree owners for proper management.
—practicing and demonstrating proper forest management principles on Department lands.
The main objectives of this Division are to promote and achieve on suitable public and private lands the establishment, protection, management, use, and perpetuation of our tree resource for all of the benefits which may be derived from them.
The Division cooperates with and makes full use of federal, state, and private agency programs, efforts and monies to achieve Division objectives and benefit forestry in Illinois. Formal cooperative agreements exist with the United States Forest Service, U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service, Extension Service and other groups, associations and clubs active in forestry and its related fields.
The efforts of the Division are channeled through five disciplines: fire control, forest management, reforestation, marketing and utilization, and urban and community forestry. Each of these sections has technical leadership at state level plus resource specialists for field accomplishments. These five efforts intertwine very strongly at field level where all personnel carry out certain parts of these programs in designated geographic areas.
ILLINOIS BIG TREE CHAMPIONS
The Division of Forestry is cooperating with the American Forestry Association in an attempt to find the biggest trees of each kind in the United States and/or in Illinois. If you know of a tree that you think might qualify, send the following information to the State Forester’s office in Springfield: species, trunk circumference in inches (measured 4½ feet above the ground); total tree height in feet; and, average width of crown in feet. If your candidate appears to be a winner, a state forester will be sent to determine the exact measurements. If it is a winner your name, the kind of tree and its dimension will be placed on our list. You will receive a certificate stating that you have found a “Big Tree Champion.”