APES Unit 5.17 Sustainable Forestry

Practice FRQ

★ Identify TWO characteristics of a forest that develop when

fires are suppressed, and explain how prescribed burns

could address each of these characteristics. (4 sentences

minimum)

Fire suppression develops dry biomass buildup and thus worsened conditions that exacerbate future forest fires. Prescribed burns can address these issues by deliberately setting fire to a forest in controlled conditions. This allows the operator to burn dead biomass, dead trees susceptible to disease and pests, and recycle nutrients. This prevents forest fires or at least conditions that increase the spread and intensity of future fires.

Sustainable Forestry

Method that manages forests so they provide wood, clean water, max. biodiversity, and max. carbon sequestration in trees/soil

• Minimizes Damage: Habitat destruction, erosion

• Selective Cutting: Biggest/Oldest to preserve biodiversity + topsoil

• Human/Pack-Animal Labor: Minimize soil compaction from machinery

• Long-Term Productivity

Reforestation

Replanting trees in deforested areas

• Recycled or Reused Wood (Products)

• Chipped Wood: Agricultural fields

• Remove Diseased Trees

• Forest Certification Org: Verify wood products as sustainably harvested

Fire Suppression

Practice of immediately putting out all natural fires

• More Dry Biomass Buildup (Residue): Makes Future Fires Worse

• Monitoring: Can prevent fire damage and future fires

Prescribed Burn

Intentional forest fire under controlled conditions

• Decreases Biomass: Burns as fuel

• Dead Trees: Susceptible to disease + pests

• Nutrient Recycling: Nutrients trapped in dead biomass promote new growth