ForestryWhy are forests an important

resource?

• What renewable resources can we get from forests?

• What life support services are provided by forests?

What renewable resources can we get from forests?

Importance of Forests

Which of the following statements are true and which are false?

Statement True False

Paper is made from trees

Aspirin was developed from willow trees

Valuable metals can be extracted from the roots of trees growing near ores

Forests can regulate rainfall

Forests always contain more wildlife than non-forest areas

The active ingredient is acetylsalicylic acid named after the latin Genus name Salix

Monocultures of e.g. Sitka spruce would contain very little

Products from TreesBoth the developing and developed world are completely reliant on

products from trees

Paper Timber Firewood Cattle fodder

Gum Resin Drugs Fruit

What renewable resources can we get from forests?

Global Climate Change

• Deforestation is the second biggest source of greenhouse gases

• The world’s forest trees and soils contain twice as much carbon as is in the Earth’s atmosphere

• The Stern Review (2007) argued that improving incentives for forest conservation was “a highly cost effective way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions”

Hydrological Cycle

How do forests regulate the water cycle?

They release water via

transpiration

They release water via

transpiration

They slow down rain drops,

reducing rain splash,

infiltration, erosion and

overland flow

They slow down rain drops,

reducing rain splash,

infiltration, erosion and

overland flow

They act as a vast water store

They act as a vast water store

Biodiversity

• Tropical forest canopies sustain 40% of all life on earth 

• Pollination services alone have been estimated to contribute US$12 billion per year to agriculture

• Biodiversity is essential for ecological stability and as a source of valuable genes

The Forest Resource

Soil conservation• Trees intercept rainfall, slowing it, storing it & via evaporation

reduce the volume of water reaching the soil• Tree roots bind the soil• Leaves add OM to the soil, increasing its water-holding capacity

Microclimate• Trees provide shade, thus forests are cooler than adjacent non-

forested areas during day, warmer at night• Important for organisms adapted to live in the forest• Trees reduce wind speed

Recreation and amenityIn the UK, over 1 million people visit FC woodlands annually forwalking, mountain biking, orienteering, bird watching

Forest ProductionBesides timber and pulp for paper – making, forests provide other useful products

Non-wood product Example

Food Fruit, nuts, cattle fodder

Medicines Aspirin

Gums and resins Maple syrup

For timber and paper, tress are often grown in plantations

Natural woodland Plantation

Irregular shape & tree density varies Edges are straight lines, even, high tree density

Multi-species Monoculture

Trees of all ages Trees all same age

Variable light levels Low light levels once canopy has closed

Contains open areas No open areas

Native species May consist entirely of exotic species

Accessible Inaccessible

High wildlife value Low wildlife value

Forest production

Consumption of forest products in MEDCs and LEDCs

MEDCs: • import huge volumes of hardwood as

roundwood (tree stems) and then convert them into high value products e.g. furniture

• They also import softwood for paper – making

LEDCs: • export roundwood and import more

expensive, finished products.

• But as LEDCs develop, they are improving their capacity to manufacture and then export high-value goods

• Huge volumes of wood are used as fuelwood in LEDCs

UK Forests

Where are all the forests?

Area (000 hectares)

Conifers Broadleaves Total

England 367 757 1124

Scotland 1048 293 1341

Wales 158 127 285

Northern Ireland 66 20 87

UK 1640 1197 2837

What Do We Grow These Forests For?

• Conifers: paper making, cardboard manufacture, panels, pallets, boards, construction timber

• Deciduous species: construction timber, furniture, pallets, boards

• 30,000 people are employed in UK forest industry but we are planting fewer and fewer trees

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

2002 2005 2008 2011 2014 2017 2020 2023 2026

Thousands of tonnes

year

Softwood production

Softwood (predicted) productionHardwood production

Wood production

50

40

30

20

10

01971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006

New planting: Great Britain

Thousands of hectares

Imports

The UK imports over 50 million tonnes of wood and wood products annually

Research Q: Why are we importing at the same time as exporting?

Research Q: Why are we importing at the same time as exporting?

1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006

50

40

30

20

10

0

60

Millions of m3

Year

UK imports

UK exports

Country % of land forested

Finland 72

Sweden 65

Russian federation 50

Latvia 47

Estonia 48

Austria 47

Portugal 40

Italy 34

Germany 30

Switzerland 30

Norway 29

Greece 28

France 27

Spain 27

UK 11

Ireland 9

Forest Cover

How does our forest cover compare with other countries?

Growing Trees for Paper Manufacture

Why use conifers? • Fibres in wood can easily be separated, giving smooth

paper• Conifers can withstand low temperatures / high rainfall

/ poor soils• On better land, it is more profitable to use it for

agriculture• Faster growing than our native deciduous species

Forestry

Plantations

• Access difficult for walkers• Unattractive• Exotic species attract little wildlife• Planted in straight lines that don’t blend with upland

landscape Forestry

Problems caused by such plantations?

Deforestation

Causes:• Harvesting > MSY e.g. for timber or fuelwood• Insufficient replanting• Clearance for agriculture, HEP, roads, urban

development, mineral extraction

DeforestationConsequences

Deforestation

humus input water holding capacity

habitat

species diversity

timber, food, resins, fodder

C store

root binding

interception

rainsplash

gullying

overland flow

infiltration

humus input

wind erosion

leaching

soil erosion productivity desertification

silting flooding

diurnal temperature range

death or migration of most soil organisms

visual & recreational amenity

ground albedo

Maximum Sustainable Yield

The volume of wood that can be removed annually, in perpetuity and which the forest or plantation will replace annually in new growth

e.g. UK plantation of Sitka spruce

• Trees planted close together to promote rapid, straight, un-branched growth

• Periodic thinning prevents overcrowding as the trees age• Volume of timber removed in any thinning is crucially important• If too little, the remaining trees compete for nutrients and light,

reducing their growth rates• If too much, the available nutrients and light are not fully utilised

by the remaining trees & harvest volume < MSY

Forest Stewardship Council• FSC = an NGO established to promote the responsible management

of the world’s forests• Forest owners who want FSC accreditation have to manage their

forests sustainably and products marked with the FSC label should come from forests that are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations

Example FSC rules:• Prohibit conversion of forests or any other natural

habitat • Respect of international workers rights • Respect of Human Rights with particular attention to

indigenous peoples • Prohibit the use of hazardous chemicals • No corruption – follow all applicable laws • Identification and appropriate management of areas

that need special protection (e.g. cultural or sacred sites, habitat of endangered animals or plants

Example FSC rules:• Prohibit conversion of forests or any other natural

habitat • Respect of international workers rights • Respect of Human Rights with particular attention to

indigenous peoples • Prohibit the use of hazardous chemicals • No corruption – follow all applicable laws • Identification and appropriate management of areas

that need special protection (e.g. cultural or sacred sites, habitat of endangered animals or plants

Hypocritical MEDCs?

Many MEDCs are lobbying the governments of LEDCs to stop deforestation, especially of TRFMany LEDCs e.g. Indonesia respond that they need to develop and sales of TRF timber pays for itLEDCs argue that MEDCs deforested during their development…

Conserving Tropical Forests

Outline 10 reasons for conserving them:

• Habitat• C sink – reducing GCC• Maintains hydrological cycle• Prevents soil erosion• Worth more intact • Ecotourism• Gene conservation• Medicines• Ecological stability• Foods, gums etc

Why Are They Being Destroyed?

In your presentation, consider the following points:

Prepare a presentation entitled: “Conserving Tropical Forests: Why and How?”

• The arguments for conservation• The reasons why they are being destroyed. In this section ensure

that you consider the arguments made by some developing countries that the forests are theirs to do with as they wish

• What needs to be done to conserve them. In this section ensure that you consider the arguments that commerce may be an ally, not an enemy

• The arguments for conservation• The reasons why they are being destroyed. In this section ensure

that you consider the arguments made by some developing countries that the forests are theirs to do with as they wish

• What needs to be done to conserve them. In this section ensure that you consider the arguments that commerce may be an ally, not an enemy

Sources of Information

The following should provide lots of detail (type these in Google):

• Global Canopy Programme - Forests First in the Fight Against Climate Change

• WWF www.panda.org

• FOE www.foe.co.uk

• The Independent news.independent.co.uk

• World Conservation Monitoring Centre www.unep-wcmc.org