Week 8
212-241
FORESTS
-economically valued
-timber from coniferous->softwood (important to Canadian economy)
-timber from deciduous->hardwood
-timber harvested in many ways
-clear-cutting
-new forestry, sloppy way of clear-cutting to leave trees, mimick natural disturbances -selection systems, some left behind
-ecologically valued
-NA timber industry focus on fast growing tree species in plantations
-plantations more as crop agriculture than ecologically functional forests
-maximum sustainable yield, argues for cutting trees shortly after they have gone through their fastest stage of growth
-trees may be cut long before grown as large as they would in absence of harvesting -some harvesting seek uneven-aged stands, similar to natural forests
-growth of NA fuelled by land clearing and logging
-agriculture major cause of conversion of forests and grasslands
-many parts of developing world uses slash and burn agriculture
-agriculture in many countries supported by govt
-Brazillian govt give subsidies to farmers clearing rainforest for farmland -livestock graze ¼ earth surface
-possible overgrazing, ruin soil
-deforestation proceeding rapidly in developing nations
Forest Management Principles
-harvesting of material should not occur at rate that exceed capability of resource to replenish
-National Forest Strategy
-many managers practice ecosystem-based management
-attempts to manage harvesting to minimize impact on ecosystems
-adaptive management - systematically testing diff management approaches and aiming to improve methods as time goes
Forest fires is a natural phenomenon
-ground fire, crown fire, slope fire
-salvage logging
-makes economic sense, remove woody debris to prevent further fires
-but forests argued regenerate better with seedlings that are replanted, animals depend on holes in snags for nesting (ecological value from snags),

removing timber can cause severe erosion, collapse of stream banks, and soil damage sustainable forestry is growing
UNIT 8
-forests cover 30% of earth land surface
-boreal, temperate, and tropical
-classified as primary or secondary
-primary are those that have not been cut, 36% of total global forested area
-loss of primary forests increasing
-2ndary have been cut and subsequently have grown back naturally or through reforestation efforts
-emerging type of forests known as plantation forest what are advantages and disadvantages?
-REFORESTATION - natural or intentional restocking of existing forests and woodlands that have been depleted
-DEFORESTATION - natural forests that are cleared through logging or fire, for timber or use of area, growing pop with expanding demand major cause of deforestation -AFFORESTATION - establishment of a forest or trees where there was no forest
-Over the years, harvesting of trees has exceeded the planting of trees and there has been a net loss of approximately 15 million km2. Most of the loss has occurred in the last 30 years. forests are a multifunctional resource:
Economic functions (e.g. sources of lumber and other products such as latex and palm oil, fuelwood)
Ecosystem functions (e.g. biodiversity, watershed protection, the regulation of climate, storage of nutrients)
Social functions (recreation, aesthetics) to be renewable, forest need to be managed sustainably
-plant 1 tree for every tree cut, but not necessarily the case
-each cutting, forest ecosystems simplified (less biodiversity)
-most adopt ecosystem-based management and adaptive management
-ecosystem-based management - attempts to manage harvesting to minimize impact on ecosystems
-adaptive management - systematically testing diff management approaches and aiming to improve methods as time goes
-what impediments or barriers are there to these widespread adoption of these strategies? BIRD - Brinkman International Reforestation Development)
-reforested 500 ha

-provided silviculture training and employment to locals
-elementary school for employee children
-developed native tree species into potentially viable and sustainable commercial product
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What are the strengths of this development initiative? Think of its implications in terms of the ecological and social role of forests.
What are the limitations of this project? Is it too small scale or localized to have a significant impact?
Is small scale, locally appropriate development a good model to follow?
What advantages does this scale of development have over larger scale reforestation efforts? What are the disadvantages?
Does this initiative provide a useful template or plan for future development initiatives in other countries?