Forest Resources

1
Forest Resources

• Unit 4
• Chapter 10
• S.C.O. 4.6

2
Forestry

• The science and art of cultivating, maintaining,
  and developing forests.
• Cover 1/3 of earths land surface
• Forest were once used primarily for fuel and
  food.
• Currently used by the commercial industry for
  things like pulp and paper, lumber, etc.

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Forestry

• Two Types of Forest
• 1. Broadleaf Forest (Deciduous)
• Forests with fleshy, leaved trees that
  occur in moist regions. (EX Oak Trees, Birch
  Trees)
• 2. Coniferous Forest (Needleleaf)
• Forests with trees which have needles for
  leaves and live in cold areas (Ex Pine,
  Spruce,etc.)

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Forestry
Broadleaf Forest
Coniferous Forest
5
Forest Harvesting 4.6.1

• Two Types
• 1. Clear-Cutting The process of harvesting all
  timber in an area at the same time.
• A form of clear-cutting is Strip-cutting.

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Clear-Cutting
7
Clear-Cutting 4.6.2

• Advantages
• This method is cheap to use.
• Uses less resources. (Uses less fuel for
  machinery)
• Fast harvesting.
• Less dangerous method for workers.

• Disadvantages
• Soil erosion increases because of increase in
  soil exposure.
• Damages the forest.
• Biodiversity is decreased.
• Doesnt look nice.

8
Clear-Cutting 4.6.2

• Strip-Cutting (a form of clear cutting)
• This method consists of cutting rows of trees and
  leaving rows of trees between the cut rows.
• This method of clear-cutting is more
  environmentally friendly.
• Soil is not exposed.
• Leaves forest for animals to live.

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Strip-Cutting
10
Strip Cutting
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Strip Cutting
Strip Cutting
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Forest Harvesting 4.6.1

• Two Types
• 2. Selective Cutting Occurs when only selected
  trees are harvested from a forest site.
• Ex. Cutting only mature trees of a specific
  kind

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Selective Cutting
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Selective Cutting 4.6.2

• Advantages
• Most of the forest is left intact.
• Biodiversity is not harmed.
• Young trees are left to grow and replace mature
  trees.
• Soil erosion does not increase

• Disadvantages
• Costs more
• Hard not to damage other trees.
• Yields are lower.
• Access roads must be maintained in order to cut
  mature trees at a latter date.

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Threats to Forest Resources 4.6.3

• 1) Deforestation
• The conversion of forested land into
  another use.
• Ex Farms, cities.
• Tropical rainforest experiences most of
  the world deforestation.
• 2. Climate Change
• Warmer temperatures cause
• More fires (example Australia this
  year)
• Faster spread of insects and pests.

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Sustainable Forestry 4.6.4

• Sustainable Forestry
• Methods used to protect the worlds forest
• Some practices include
• Selective Cutting
• Using Slash Roads (Road covered with Branches)
• Tree Planting
• Controlled Burns
• Pest Management
• Buffer Zones

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Sustainable Forestry 4.6.4

• If we look at sustainable forestry from a
  "Systems Model" perspective we can see that we
  have three options
• Improve what we input into forestry (replanting
  seedlings)
• Improve processes like
• road construction
• harvesting techniques
• environmental protection actions
• reducing losses (use all of the tree)
• Reduce the need of output product
•  Recycle
• Use of alternate building materials
•  

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Forest Cover 4.6.7

• Continent
• North America
• South America
• Europe
• Africa
• Asia
• Australia

• Forest Cover
• 32.2
• 51.8
• 33.4
• 23.2
• 20.2
• 23.5

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Forest Cover
20
Forest Depletion

• The Earth's forests are vanishing at 150,000 km2/
  year.
• Tropical rainforests suffer 140,000 km2 of the
  total.
• 55 caused by Slash and Burn
• 20 Logging
• 15 Road Construction
• 10 Cattle Farming