Unit 8: Resource Use and Extraction Section 1: Forests Unit 8: Resource Use and Extraction

Forests Land where trees are the dominant life form (in high density) Covers 30% of the world’s land

Types of Forests Different biomes have different kinds of forests Boreal forest in Canada, Scandinavia, and Russia Tropical rainforest in South and Central America, Africa, Indonesia, and southeast Asia Temperate deciduous forests, temperate rainforests, and tropical dry forests also exist

Ecosystem Services Influence local weather Transpiration cools temperature Affects water and nutrient cycles Photosynthesis – removes CO2 , adds O2 Forests act as reservoirs for Carbon Reduces erosion and slows runoff Provides habitat for other organisms

Human Benefits Provides valuable wood products Fuel for fire (cooking, warmth) Housing Paper

Forests Moderate Climate Change Trees absorb CO2 and store Carbon Deforestation can encourage climate change Dead plants decompose and release CO2 Less trees to absorb CO2

Deforestation Consequences Soil: nutrient depletion; more prone to desertification and erosion Decrease in biodiversity Water cycle affected; no transpiration No photosynthesis = excess CO2 Species extinction (LOH)

Deforestation is not currently occurring evenly across the world

Deforestation in LDCs Lots of forest resources in LDCs With modern technology, deforestation is occurring faster than ever 2 football fields cut down every second Lumber Machine

Deforestation in LDCs Foreign companies are not going to care about environment Few restrictions = unsustainable harvesting This is concession, where companies pay governments to be able to acquire timber on their land

Harvesting Techniques

Clearcutting All trees in a specific area are cut down

Slash and Burn Cutting and burning sections of forests for farming

Harvesting Techniques Selective Cutting Mature trees are cut while other trees remain intact Fewer negative effects but not as profitable Takes longer Less timber Similar: Seed-tree system

Selective Cutting

Solutions to Deforestation

Conservation Concessions Private organizations are paying governments to protect land Example: Suriname – Paid $15 million by Conservation International and almost all deforestation has stopped! REDD - Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Wealthy nations would pay poorer countries to conserve forests to reduce greenhouse emissions In return, they get credits to offset their own Carbon emissions Not formally agreed to yet, but could be in upwards of $100 billion/year

Forestry Common Management Method: Forest Management – shift to sustainability Common Management Method: Maximum Sustainable Yield Method – population kept at ½ carrying capacity (where growth is fastest) U.S. Forest Service – 1905 Set National Forests aside as protected land – 8% of U.S.

Forest Management Legislation National Forest Management Act (1976) Mandated all national forests to formulate plans for sustainability based on: Multiple uses (recreation, timber, etc.) Maximum sustainable yield method Public input Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – non- governmental, but an agency that certifies logging practices to be sustainable

Regrowth is exceeding removal!

Wildfire: Friend or Foe? U.S. Forest Service suppressed all fires for over 100 years However, many organisms DEPEND on the fire for survival Suppression leads to periodic catastrophic fires Lead to Prescribed Burns where areas are burned intentionally and controlled