WELCOME TO FOREST WORLD

MY DEAR FRIENDS AND MY

RESPECTED TEACHER REEMA

IMPORTANCE OF

FORESTS

TOPICS

Economical Importance Of Forests Environmental Importance Of Forests Ecological Importance Of Forests Religious Importance Of Forests

Introduction

A forest is a type of ecosystem in which there is high density of trees occupying a relatively large area of land. An ecosystem is an ecological unit consisting of a biotic community together with it’s a biotic environment. In the case of a forest, trees dominate the biotic landscape, although there are also other plants and animals. There are many types of forest, such as rainforests and temperate hardwood forest. Forests provide innumerable values to people, provide aspects that address both physical needs as well as the internal nature of people .

FOREST PRESERVATION

Environmental activists consider forests as one of the top 5 natural resources on earth. This is rightly so, and today, we shall look at how wonderful our forests are to us, and why we should immediately stop its' destruction. There is more to forests than just a massive collection of trees. It is a natural, complex ecosystem, made up of a wide variety of trees, that support a massive range of life forms. Quiet apart from trees, forests also include the soils that support the trees, the water bodies that run through them and even the atmosphere (air) around them. Forests of the world are a natural wonder that humans have sadly taken for granted. Forests come in many sizes and forms. For example, the piece of land with huge trees and many animals, birds and water bodies running through it in a part of Kenya can be called a forest. In the same way, the large belt of thick, evergreen trees running from Peru to Brazil (called the Amazon Rain Forest) is also a forest. A good example is the Amazon Rain Forest.

It is estimated that two-thirds of the world's forest is currently distributed among 10 countries:

Forests are hugely important for life on earth. This is because it serves as an ecosystem, and sustains life for millions of animals, birds and animals that live in the rivers and streams running through these forests. It also does a lot of good to the atmosphere in climate control, as well as supplying oxygen for human sustenance.

……ECONOMICAL IMPORTANCE…

Forests have obvious economic significance through the provision of timber and wood. In addition, non-timber products like rubber, cotton, medicinal products, and food represent

significant economic value. Even more important is fuel wood and fodder, especially in developing nations, where people

depend on wood almost entirely for their household energy.

Given the immense economic benefit of forests, the demand for commercial timber and other

products is ever increasing. Already, there are signs of a growing shortage of

tropical hardwoods. This is due to over-harvesting of timber, but also increasing demands from a growing

human population, agriculture, mining and water storage.

•Forests accumulate large amounts of standing biomass, and many are capable of accumulating it at high rates, i.e. they are highly productive. Such high levels of biomass and tall vertical structures represent large stores of potential energy that can be converted to kinetic energy under the right circumstances. •Two such conversions of great importance are fires and tree falls, both of which radically alter the biota and the physical environment where they occur. •Also, in forests of high productivity, the rapid growth of the trees themselves induces biotic and environmental changes, although at a slower rate and lower intensity than relatively instantaneous disturbances such as fires.

FOREST ECONOMIC THEORY

Even –Aged Forest Economic Optimization: Maximize soil expectation value - returns to the land, given price of inputs and outputs and a discount rate.

Key results in optimization:

•Stand value decreases with distance to mill.•Optimal harvest age increases with distance to mill.

The classical Faustian model of optimal forest rotation shows in some cases a positive relationship between optimal harvest age and distance to mill, because of the complex interaction between land value, distance to mill, and stumpage price. The same model would prescribe that stands growing on lower quality sites are optimally grown to later ages than stands on high-quality sites. Also, stands very far from mills have no economic value and are not economically managed and sometimes not even economically harvested. The same goes for stands growing on difficult to harvest sites such as steep slopes or wet soils.We offer one additional comment. If a stand is close to a mill that consumes large-diameter material only, then there might be an incentive for forest managers to not cut the tree until it reaches larger diameters, since economic value may be maximized this way. In a sense, the rate of value increase is higher for those stands, meaning that it might be optimal to cut the stand at a later age than one far from such a mill; but this economic incentive hinges on many factors, including species physical growth rates, the differential between the large diameter and smaller diameter product market prices, and how being close to that mill affects land value.

ECONOMICS

ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

Ecological FOREST ECOLOGY IS THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY

OF THE INTERRELATED PATTERNS, PROCESSES, FLORA, FAUNA AND ECOSYSTEMS IN FORESTS.

THE MANAGEMENT FOREST IS KNOWN AS FORESTRY AND FOREST MANAGEMENT

A FOREST ECOSYSTEM IS A NATURAL WOODLAND UNIT CONSISTING OF ALL PLANTS, ANIMALS AND MICRO-ORGANISMS (BIOTIC COMPONENTS) IN THAT AREA FUNCTIONING TOGETHER WITH ALL OF THE NON-LIVING PHYSICAL FACTORS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

THE POLICY ADJUSTMENTS, FOREST MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES CONTINUE TO BE DESTABILIZED BY POLICIES THAT ENCOURAGE:

Inappropriate concession agreements that allow uncontrolled log harvesting beyond sustainable levels; poorly drafted forestry regulations that compromise sustainable forest practices; lack of enforcement of sound regulations; and excessive incentives to forest product industries resulting in inadequate investment in wood processing capacity.

Land tenure policies that encourage deforestation, particularly tendril rules that assign property rights over public forests to private parties on condition that such lands are `developed' or `improved'. Such rules have facilitated small farmer expansion into forests, and in some countries have been used by wealthy parties to amass large holdings for speculative reasons.

Absence of national land-use policy that would guide land allocation according to land capability and environment impact considerations, including excisions of forest land for inappropriate alternative usage.

Pricing policies and investment priorities biased in favor of agriculture, and farm policies that favor large farmers over smallholders all of which ultimately retard the demographic transition, make rural populations more dependent on natural forests for subsistence needs, and increase the concentration of agricultural landholdings.

Pricing policies and investment priorities biased in favor of agriculture, and farm policies that favor large farmers over smallholders all of which ultimately retard the demographic transition, make rural populations more dependent on natural forests for subsistence needs, and increase the concentration of agricultural landholdings.Subsidy programmers that provide financial aid to private investors through low interest loans and tax breaks that boost the profitability of agriculture or ranching.Low logging fees in public forests, and the charges that encourage licensees to harvest selectively, taking only the most valuable stems. Consequently, larger areas are harvested to meet timber demands, opening up more of the forest to shifting cultivators, while severely damaging residual trees by logging operations.Policies that lead to inadequate valuation of non-traded forest products hence most woodland products that have non-market values, including subsistence production and non-marketable or non-use values based on ecological, spiritual or aesthetic benefits, remain

ECOLOGY

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPORTANCE

PROTECTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ROLE OF FORESTS

The forest can deliver the functions of protection or conservation expected from it only if it is either in its natural state and under good natural ecological conditions or, when in use, it is managed in a sustainable manner.

Under such conditions, health and vitality are very important. It is the vitality of forests that allows them to grow with sufficient strength and vigor in a way that will counter physical forces affecting soils through water erosion. It is this same vigor that allows a well-structured architecture and rich foliage that can counter wind erosion.

The health of forests is fundamental to many of their environmental functions.

However, forests are often affected by insects and other pests. They may be affected by a number of physiological alterations depending on climate changes, especially droughts. With health, vitality and a proper state of conservation, management and development secured. the forest intervenes especially in the following major environmental and protective functions.

MOUNTAIN FORESTS AND SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT

• Mountain ecosystems are among the fragile ecosystems targeted by UNCED Agenda 21; they are dealt with in Chapter 13, "Sustainable mountain development".

• The many activities developed intensively during the last five years since the Earth Summit have heightened awareness of the many functions of mountains. They are a repository of rare and rich plant and animal biological diversity.

• They contain unique gene resources underpinning agriculture and animal husbandry in the particular circumstances and farming systems prevailing in high valleys and plateaus.

• They provide a steady flow of water resources with related renewable energy potential. They are host to and protectors of a diversity of races and cultures.

FORESTS IN THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF DRYLANDS

• Trees and forests in dry regions have truly multiple functions. They provide a number of services that tend to buffer the harsh conditions and processes prevailing in dry zones especially in tropical areas.

• The environmental functions of trees and forests under dry conditions relate to a number of aspects, including the wellbeing of humans and animals, the productivity of cropland, the overall protection of land and water resources and the conservation of biological diversity.

• Bertha (1997), through Malian examples and lessons of universal value, has identified the many roles of forestry in dry lands highlighting prerequisites to, and results of, well-guided forestry-related activities in the rehabilitation of natural resources and, especially, desertification control.

• He mentions the importance of training and technical advice and extension for rural populations; the improvement of the knowledge base of resources; the need for promoting new technologies; the major involvement of interested people; and the Revolution of responsibilities to their organizations.

ENVIRONMENT

RELIGIOUS IMPORTANCE

THE CULTURAL AND SYMBOLIC IMPORTANCE OF FOREST RESOURCES

The variety of cultural values and symbolic functions ascribed to the forests are as numerous and diverse as the communities and cultures of the region.

Physically and mystically forests have defined the environment of communities in the region throughout time.

The distinction that has been made between cultural values and the forest’s functions is actually an artificial one.

TANGIBLY AND INTANGIBLY, forests feature in all aspects of culture: language, history, art, religion, medicine,

politics, and even social structure itself.

TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE FOREST Tangibly and intangibly, forests feature in all aspects of culture: language,

history, art, religion, medicine, politics, and even social structure itself. Forest trees may house the spirits of ancestors as well as those of the newborn.

And forests are viewed in both positive and negative lights as sources of evil as well as power and munificence, as providers for, and hindrances to development.

The mystical qualities of specific forest resources often play a crucial role in traditional healing practices. Forests provide the venue for religious, social, and healing ceremonies.

Forest products such as tam-tams and forest foods such as palm wine are used in many ceremonies.

Assessing the myriad of symbolic and cultural values of forests goes far beyond the scope of this study.

However, this does not diminish their importance in terms of the value people place on forests and forest

THE TREE’S SIGNIFICANCE AS A LINK TO CULTURE AND BELIEF Forest trees, the links between the sky and earth, often symbolize links

between the spiritual world of ancestors and people. Rituals and ceremonies which draw on forest symbols often serve to link people with their cultural heritage, as well as their ancestral past

Calame-Giraule 1969, 1970). Trees play a role in all facets and periods of West African peoples’ lives.

The Ubangi (Centre Enrique) plant a tree in the bush for a newborn child. For female children a fast-growing profuse fruiter is planted.

The child’s development is linked to the growth of the tree. If tree growth declines, people fear for the health of the child and a healer is called upon.

When the child is sick it is brought to the tree for treatment. When the tree begins to fruit, the time will have come for the child to marry. Throughout a person’s life, gifts are occasionally left for the tree. When someone dies their spirit goes to reside in their personal “birthright” tree (Vergas1969).

RELIGION

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DON’T DESTROY THE GREENERY AND DON’T SPOIL THE SCENERY. SAVE MOTHER EARTH.

“IF A TREE FALLS IN A FOREST AND LANDS ON A POLITICIAN, EVEN IF YOU CAN'T HEAR THE TREE OR THE SCREAMS, I'LL BET YOU'D AT LEAST HEAR THE APPLAUSE.”

THANK YOU…