ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FOREST ECOSYSTEM

FOREST ECOSYSTEM The forest is one of the main resource in our world. A forest ecosystem  is a terrestrial unit of living organisms (plants, animals and microorganisms), all interacting among themselves and with the environment (soil, climate, water and light) in which they live The forest is one of the main resource in our world. Nearly it occupies 40% of the world’s land area In India 19% of the land is occupied by the forest

FORESTS

Deciduous Forest Large, flat leaves that drop off in the Fall, new leaves grow in Spring. Leaves change color with the seasons. These trees grow in places that have warm, wet summers and cold winters.

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST These trees grow in places that are hot and wet all year. Trees are very tall and the leaves are always green. The forest has three layers.

COASTAL FOREST Grows in places where there is lots of rain. Temperature is not too hot or too cold, just cool. Has three layers just like the rain forest: canopy, understory, forest floor.

CONIFEROUS FOREST Grows in places with very cold winters and cool summers. The leaves look like needles so they don’t need very much water. Seeds grow in cones. Get less rain than all the other forests

Problems facing forest ecosystems

But why these forests are disappearing?

Problems facing forest ecosystems Loss of trees makes global warming worse. Through photosynthesis, trees remove carbon dioxide from the air, produce oxygen, and store carbon as wood. One ton of carbon in wood or forest biomass represents 3.67 tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide recycled. We are creating warming, not only by putting more CO2 into the air, but also by getting rid of trees that absorb and remove carbon from the air. Impact on Ecosystems. Forests preserve water, soils, plants and wildlife. Their destruction aggravates droughts, soil erosion, and pollution of watercourses, and causes extensive flooding, and increased pest populations due to the ecological imbalance. Loss of Species. Tropical forests contain at least half the Earth's species, so their loss causes a dramatic loss of biodiversity. Clearing and destructive logging of forests is the single greatest cause of species extinction worldwide.

Solutions Corporations-If corporations have the ability to destroy the world’s rainforests, they also have the power to help save them Governments-Governments are able to enact ambitious domestic and international forest policies that have wide-ranging effects Individuals-As individuals, we contribute significantly to deforestation with our lifestyle, hence we have the responsibility to keep ourselves in check

Corporations Implement anti-deforestation policies Corporations can implement anti-deforestation policies that require suppliers and other stakeholders to operate in ways that do not harm the environment Minimise paper wastage and encourage recycling Corporations are huge consumers of paper. Management can work towards a paper-free office by shifting towards email and soft-copies, and also encourage their employees to recycle

Governments Reforestation The cutting down of trees must be countered by replacing old ones that were cut with young ones. Trees are being planted every year, but they still don’t match the number of trees that we lost Support organisations that push for anti-deforestation and save wildlife Governments have the resources to allow antideforestation organisations to get their message across and increase their sphere of influence. This is a good way to indirectly solve deforestation

Individuals Recycle-Everybody, even children, can be conscious of the need to recycle. Instead of throwing paper away, we can always seek to recycle it or use it for other purposes Use recycled products By purchasing recycled products, we are encouraging more and more companies to produce recycled products, which deal less damage to our forests , creates less waste and decreases the need for new raw materials

Individuals “You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result” Mahatma Gandhi