APES-Forestry

Forestry

Forests may be considered a crop and are often managed as such.

Only 5% of original forests in North America are left

3 Types of Forests:

1. Old Growth Forest

2. Second Growth Forest

3. Plantations or Tree Farms

Old Growth Forest:

Has never been cut- undisturbed

HUGE INCREDIBLE biodiversity because of many different habitats

Second Growth Forest

Cutting has occurred.

New younger forest has re-grown

Re-grown forest does not have the same biodiversity and is not as stable as old growth.

Plantations or Tree Farms

Planted and managed forests or tree stands

Trees are all the same age

Harvested for commercial use ( economic)

Cutting of the rainforest for coconuts, palms, etc

Deforestation

Destruction of a forest for economic reasons.

In the US most deforestation is due to urbanization (building homes, malls, roads)

Developed (Industrialized) Countries

higher demand for wood but less deforestation (we import wood)

Developing countries

less demand for wood but more deforestation (they clear more forests for agriculture)

Deforestation Effects

-Loss of biodiversity.

-Deforested watersheds lose soil nutrients in stream runoff.

-Erosion increases.

-Soil moisture decline- leads to a drier atmosphere downwind from deforested land.

-Deforestation contributes to global warming by eliminating carbon storage by tree biomass and by reducing CO2 absorption during photosynthesis.

Logging

Cutting trees for profit - to use as lumber

Despite environmental effects done because economy depends on it.

Silviculture

managing forests to be used over and over

3 Main types of forest management

1. Clear cutting

2. Selective cutting

3. Agroforestry

Clear cutting

-Removal of all the trees in one area.

-Destroys habitats, causes erosion, leads to soil degradation, can cause species extinction.

Selective cutting

-Removes some but not all trees in an area

-Less of an impact on the ecosystem

Example> Shelter wood cutting - removing only some of the oldest trees - leaves some trees to reseed the forest.

Agroforestry

-Trees and crops are planted together- mutualism.

-Trees create habitats for animals that will kill off pests that would otherwise kill crops.

-Roots of trees keep the soil more stable.

What happens after forest is cut?

Succession

Ecological Succession - change in an ecosystem or community over time.

Primary succession- succession begins in a lifeless area- like under a glacier that has moved.

Secondary succession- when succession occurs in an area that has been cleared, cut, etc.

Pioneer species

- first organisms that show up - have a high tolerance- can survive anywhere

Climax community

- The final stage of succession where there is balance in the ecosystem - OLD GROWTH FORESTS ARE CLIMAX COMMUNITIES

Is forestry sustainable?

If the forest is re-grown it is considered to be a sustainable resource

Practices that maintain ecosystem and produce lumber are the best/ most sustainable

Forest Stewardship Council - certifies practices as sustainable.

US GOVT

- owns 35% of land in the US Pres. Lincoln - first national park 1864 - Yosemite

National Park System - conserves and manages forests and grasslands- camping, hiking, recreation allowed

National Forests

Federally owned lands managed for multiple use, including timber harvest, recreation, wildlife and watershed protection.

Portions of some national forests have been designated Wilderness Areas, where activities and access are limited.

Rangelands

Rangelands are natural or semi-natural habitats that are managed for livestock, forage or natural resources (such as in South Dakota in photo).

Wildlife Refuges

Begun in 1903, the National Wildlife Refuge system focuses particularly on protecting habitat for breeding, wintering and migratory waterfowl.

State and federal refuges are oriented toward game management and portions of many are open to seasonal hiking, wildlife observation and hunting.

Hunting may be used to help regulate populations of species like deer.

Green Belts

Open or forest areas at the edges of a city

NO building permitted

Limit growth of city

Can be used as parks -also used for things like grazing cattle.

3 Kinds of Fires

Surface fires- burn forest underbrush- do little damage to mature trees.

Crown fires- start on ground or in canopy of trees- do huge damage to wildlife, humans, homes, burn at HIGH Temperatures

Ground Fires- in bogs or swamps - underground- can burn for weeks without knowing

Forest fires: Good or Bad?

Some forests need fires in order to survive

Fire kills large trees so baby trees can grow

Some pine trees need the heat of forest fires to crack open seed pods and spread them.

Controlled burn

Small fires started when conditions are right by forest service

Controversial!

If no controlled burn dry leaves, needles and wood build up on forest floor more damage can be caused by a bigger fire.

Healthy Forests Initiative (or HFI), officially the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003

In response to lots of forest fires in 2002

Thin forest, clear vegetation and trees to help prevent fires.

Stop destructive insects and improve fire fighting techniques.

Community wildfire protection plans designate areas adjacent to communities that should be thinned so that crown fires will not directly burn into communities.

Urban Development

Urbanization -historically developed at hubs of trade; e.g. ports, confluences of rivers.

Half the world's population lives in urban areas; is increasing particularly in developing countries.

Urban (suburban) Sprawl

Refers development spreading into formerly rural landscapes.

Is characterized by tract housing, shopping malls and automobile transportation.

Natural habitats become fragmented and permeable surfaces are replaced with impervious ones.

Sprawling suburban development is associated with greater per capita pollution than high density urban areas.

Transportation

roads, rail lines, waterways and air routes.

mass transportation more energy efficient than individual transport.

roads provide ready access to areas for commerce, defense and recreation, but diminish the natural ecosystems, enhance erosion and create sources of pollution.

Roadless areas have been established on some federal and state lands to protect the natural values of certain landscapes, including their values for wildlife and watersheds.

Habitat Restoration

Ecosystem services (clean water, decomp of waste) services provided in an undisturbed system.

Restoration -repairing damaged environments in order for them to again provide ecosystem services

Replacement of a destroyed wetland with a new one

Sustainable land use:

Instituting policies that prevent urban sprawl (Roughly half the loss of arable land is due to urbanization)

designating particular parcels of land for specific uses, including residential, industrial, commercial, agricultural and open space.

Compact development involves situating residential areas near commercial and job centers, as well as having access to public transportation.