The coniferous forests

Abstract

Coniferous forests are mainly found in a broad circumpolar belt across the northern hemisphere and on mountain ranges where low temperatures limit the growing season to a few months each year (Figure 8.1). The northern boreal forests cover an estimated 15.8 million km², compared with about 3.3 million km² in temperate mountain areas. The mild, moist climate of the Pacific north-west coast of North America is also favourable for conifers: these forests cover about 0.5 million km² in a narrow coastal strip from Alaska to northern California (Olson, 1975).