Sitka Spruce Plantation (Unalaska, Alaska)
Encyclopedia
Sitka Spruce Plantation, also known as The Forest or AHRS UNL-074, is an afforestation
site and National Historic Landmark
located in the Aleutian island of Amaknak
. It is the first recorded afforestation site in North America.
Amaknak Island was naturally treeless. The afforestation was begun by Russians in 1805, in an attempt to make the Unalaska
community self-sufficient in timber
. As of 1975, six of the originally planted trees still stood.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1978.
Afforestation
Afforestation is the establishment of a forest or stand of trees in an area where there was no forest. Reforestation is the reestablishment of forest cover, either naturally or artificially...
site and National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
located in the Aleutian island of Amaknak
Amaknak Island
Amaknak Island or Umaknak Island is an islet in Unalaska Bay, northeast of Unalaska Island in the Fox Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in southwest Alaska. The Dutch Harbor area of Unalaska, Alaska is on Amaknak Island...
. It is the first recorded afforestation site in North America.
Amaknak Island was naturally treeless. The afforestation was begun by Russians in 1805, in an attempt to make the Unalaska
Unalaska, Alaska
Unalaska is a city in the Aleutians West Census Area of the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. Unalaska is located on Unalaska Island and neighboring Amaknak Island in the Aleutian Islands off of mainland Alaska....
community self-sufficient in timber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
. As of 1975, six of the originally planted trees still stood.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1978.