American hard maple is a cold climate species, although trees can grow throughout the USA in mixed hardwood forests, but favour the more northern states. The species is quite different from other maples throughout the world. The trees often grow in dense stands on many types of soil and are also farmed for their famous maple syrup. Harvesting the trees is seasonal (autumn and winter).

FOREST GROWTH

FIA data shows U.S. hard maple growing stock is 953.7 million m3, 6.6% of total U.S. hardwood growing stock. American hard maple is growing 19.1 million m3 per year while the harvest is 10.2 million m3 per year. Net volume (after harvest) is increasing 8.8 million m3 each year. U.S. hard maple growth exceeds harvest in all major supplying states except Maine. In Maine maple harvests have been high relative to growth, mainly due to increased extraction for pulpwood and bioenergy supplies, and because maple-dominated hardwood forests are slowly being replaced by softwood forest types.