FOREST ECOSYSTEMS

Customer’s NameUniversity Name

Course Name

IntroductionThis presentation will discuss

• Introduction of forests• Types of forest ecosystems• Deforestation and climate change• Conservation of forests• Conclusion

Introduction of Forests• In the year 2010, forests covered around 31% of total land area of Earth• Forests contain most of the biodiversity on Earth• During the years 2000-2010, deforestation cleared 13 million hectares

of plantation• However, afforestation and natural forestation recovered 7.8 million

hectares of plantation• Forests maintain hydrological cycle on Earth, bring rains, regulate

groundwater and surface water flows and maintain high quality of water• Forests also contribute to stability of climate(“Sustainable Forest Management”, n.d.)

Introduction of Forests• Forests also contribute to the maintenance of temperatures and

reduction of pollution in the environment• Wild fires, temperature fluctuations and forest pests contribute to

deforestation and clearance of forests• Forests and plantation reduce weather and climate associated risks such

as, floods, droughts, landslides, melting of glaciers by reducing global warming

• Forests prevent salinization and/ or desertification of lands, and maintain fertility of soils

• Forests are recognized on the basis of their distribution across Earth and on the basis of climatic conditions.

(“Sustainable Forest Management”, n.d.)

Types of ForestsBased on the distribution of forests across different latitudes forests are divided into following ecozones• Boreal Forests (Taiga forests)• Temperate Forests• Tropical forests

Figure shows distribution of different ecozones on Earth

Boreal Forests• 50 and 60 degrees N latitude• World’s largest biome covering around 29% of all forests• 2/3rds of Boreal forests found in Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark)• Typically found in Northern Asia, Siberia & Canada• Long winters, short summers, precipitation as snow, thin soil, slow

decomposition, • Cold temperatures, dense canopy, characteristic feature: permafrost• Permafrost breaks the thin soil open and releases methane gas which

contributes to deterioration of ozone layer• Plantation: Spruce, Fir, Pine, Larch trees (Sporrong, 2008)

Temperate Deciduous Forests• Lie between tropical and polar regions (from tropic of cancer to arctic circle• Japan, China, Eastern United States, Canada, Western Europe, Russia• Four seasons, precipitation as rain during spring, summer and fall, and as snow

during winters, 30-60 inches of rain most of the year, fertile soils and dense vegetation

• Mosses, wildflowers, ferns, dense grasses, dense deciduous trees like maple, birch trees and oaks etc. Shrubs, herbs and ferns are common. Only some evergreen trees.

• Animals adapted to four seasons and cold winters; fauna include foxes, red fox, woodpeckers, cardinals, hawks etc.

• Temperate forests threatened by acid rains, strip mining, climate change, invasive & non- invasive species in competition for food, survival and space.

• (Kottek, Grieser, Beck, Rudolf, & Rubel, 2006)

Temperate Coniferous Forests• Found in coastal areas, in-land mountainous areas, mild climate, heavy rains,

mild winters, high precipitation – Canada, Pacific NW United States, South America, Northwestern Europe, New Zealand and Japan

• Little fluctuations in temperature throughout the year, moderate temperatures, 50-200 inches rains, moist climate and long fertile seasons

• Quick decomposition in soil, thick layer of soil, soil fertile and rich with nutrients• Long growing season, evergreen trees forests like conifers, tall trees like cypress,

cedar, pine, redwood, fir, spruce with some deciduous trees like maple, ferns, mosses etc.

• Animals like deer, elk, black bear, marmot, spotted owl, salmon etc. are common• Temperate forests are being cleared due to urbanization, building of roads and

other human activities• (Kottek, Grieser, Beck, Rudolf, & Rubel, 2006)

Zones and Climate in Temperate Forest Regions• North temperate zone – Tropic of Cancer to Arctic circle (23.50 N to 66.50 N)• South temperate zone – Tropic of Capricorn to Antarctic circle (23.50 S to 66.50 S)• Temperate climate – Sub- tropical climate, maritime climate, continental (arid &

semi- arid) • Sub-tropical – in-land temperatures subdivisions similar to that of tropical regions• Maritime climate- affected by warm winds from oceans, stable temperatures• Continental – climate in inland and mountainous areas, cold winters, hot summers• Due to greatest land mass available in temperate regions, majority of human

population resides here• Rich fauna and flora(Kottek, Grieser, Beck, Rudolf, & Rubel, 2006)

Tropical Rainforests• Cover only 2% of Earth but contains around 50% of all species, biome containing greatest

biodiversity• Found around the equator, 23.50 N and 23.50 S.• High temperatures through out the year (68 0F– 77 0F). No winters and heavy rains (100

inches of rain). Climate warm and moist.• High decomposition rates, heavy rainfall leading to leeching of nutrients from soil, leaving

soil poor in nutrients.• Trees broad leafed and very tall - 82 and 115 feet. Plantation: ferns, mosses, vines, orchids,

palms etc. Dense plantation, thick canopy, sunlight blocked due to thick canopy and does not reach the ground. Animals adapted to arboreal life, therefore, common animals species include bats, birds, monkeys, snakes etc.

• Tropical rainforests are also threatened by human activities, deforestation to build urban centers, unsustainable forest activities, clearing of land for agricultural purposes, developmental activities and deteriorating global climate.

• (Laurance, & Peres, 2006)

Figure shows temperature and precipitation in different types of forests

Deforestation and Climate• Deforestation linked with climate change• Cutting of forests for development and building construction• Hydrological cycle is disturbed, less transpiration and lesser precipitation, decreased

absorption of CO2 due to deforestation• Loss of soil fertility, excessive rains leading to floods or no rains leading to droughts,

increasing global temperatures and melting of ice on polar caps• Increased pollution and accumulation of pollutant gases in the environment, global

warming, damaged ozone layer and harmful UV rays causing a number of diseases• Disturbed fauna, endangered species and extinction of animal species• Disturbed flora causing emergence of new microflora leading to new diseases,

allergies and health challenges• Food insecurity and health challenges to growing populations(Gorte, & Sheikh, 2010)

Conservation of Forests• Temperate and tropical forests are especially under the threat of shrinking• Holds significance and rings alarm bells because both the forests holds

greatest and largest number of animals and plant species as well as house majority of human populations

• Provide food, shelter, livelihood and security to majority of human populations

• Conservation of forests and limiting deforestation critical to the survival of humans and other living beings

• For the sustainability of climate and human populations, policy making is required protecting forests and avoiding deforestation (Tinker, Ingram, & Struwe, 1996; Bonan, 2008; Tacconi, 2007)

• This is as much important as is cutting carbon emissions.

Conclusion• Different types of forests with their characteristics, highlighting their

contribution to animals, human life and climate, have been discussed in this presentation

• The protection of forestation is critical to the survival of living beings and continuity of human race in the times to come

• Deforestation is leading to serious damage of climate and posing threats to food, health and sustainability

• Negative climatic changes, deforestation and global warming together constitute dangerous combination which should be immediately mitigated and reversed for sustainable environments

• Immediate and strict policy making and willingness of nations are required to save life on this planet.

References• Bonan, G. B. (2008). Forests and climate change: forcings, feedbacks, and the climate benefits of

forests. science, 320(5882), 1444-1449.• Gorte, R. W., & Sheikh, P. A. (2010). Deforestation and climate change. Congressional Research Service.• Kottek, M., Grieser, J., Beck, C., Rudolf, B., & Rubel, F. (2006). World map of the Köppen-Geiger climate

classification updated. Meteorologische Zeitschrift, 15(3), 259-263.• Laurance, W. F., & Peres, C. A. (2006). Emerging threats to tropical forests. University of Chicago Press.• Sporrong, U. (2008). The scandinavian landscape and its resources.Cambridge History of Scandinavia,

15-42.• Tacconi, L. (2007). Deforestation and climate change. POLICY BRIEFS, 6.• Tinker, P. B., Ingram, J. S., & Struwe, S. (1996). Effects of slash-and-burn agriculture and deforestation on

climate change. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 58(1), 13-22.