Forestry Resources

Forestry

Forestry Resources

1. Natural distribution of forests
2. Use and functions
3. Deforestation
4. Sustainable forest management
5. Technological innovations in Forestry

Geographical distribution of world’s forests (a map of world with the distribution)

Boreal Forests

• Cold environments; sub-Arctic; conifers; supplies lumber and pulpwood

Temperate Forests

• Cold environments; mid-latitudes; deciduous; original forest lost to agriculture and settlement

(found in this area: Maple, oak , edge)

Tropical Forests

• Warm environments; low latitudes; evergreen broadleaf trees; rich biodiversity

( hot spot for biodiversity)

Primary & secondary Forests

Primary forests:

• Primary forests are uncut, ‘old growth’, frontier, ecologically intact forests ( 0% of temperate; 60% of tropical)

Secondary forests:

Secondary forests have undergone ecological succession after cutting.

• Degraded areas can be restocked through afforestation (previous land wasn’t forest – was a desert or bare land and government decided to make it forest) and reforestation (it was a forest in the past and again it begins to become a forest) initiatives (plantations)

Succession of plant species on abandoned fields in North Carolina

[pic 1]

Forest plantations

Via ‘reforestation’ and ‘afforestation’

Industrial plantations:

• Intensive single species forests maintained for economic purposes (e.g., fiber, lumber, etc.)

Non-industrial plantations:

• This type of plantation is aimed at conservation of water, soil and biodiversity.

Ecosystem  ( Figure 17.5 in text)

Biodiversity & habitat

• Forest is rich reservoir of flora and fauna
• It provides habitat and food sources
• It serves as nutrient and storage in biomass

Watershed Protection

• Stabilisation of landmass
• Enhancement of water infiltration
• Moderation of water flow
• Recycling of water

Climate Regulation

• Act as ‘carbon sink’, but also releases CO2 which influences the Greenhouse Effect
• Forest is key in maintaining climate and balance of gases

A graph   ( tones of carbons per hectare)

Economic Functions

Forest goods and services:

• Forest products (timber, logs, pulpwood, etc.)
• Non-timber forest products (latex, palm oil, medicinal plants, fruit, nuts, etc.)
• Fuel wood (energy)
• Grazing area (fodder)
• Tourism

Forest Production

1999 global log production ( map of the world with areas marked on it)

Canada’s Forestry Industry

Recreation

• It provides a means of recreation and other activities (e.g., eco-toursim)
• Forests have aesthetic and religious values

Causes of Deforestation  ( talked about these for like 30 mins)

• Agriculture and ranching
• Industrial logging

• Weyerhaeuser & MacMillan
• Bloedel

• Road construction
• Urbanization
• Mining
• Oil / natural gas extraction and pipelines  (  -- Ogoniland in  Nigeria )
• Firewood
• Reservoir construction (dams)
• Mono-culture plantations

Impacts of Deforestation  (Talked about is for like 15 mins)

• Hydrologic cycle
• Loss of biological and genetic diversity
• Climate change (greenhouse effect)
• Economic growth  (Creative destruction)
• Subsistence livelihoods
• Cultural significance

Harvesting methods

Clear-Cutting:

• Large machines are used to fell, trim and skid logs rapidly
• Every tree in harvest areas are cut regardless of size.
• It leaves forests in variety of patterns (patches)

(Past logging activities picture)