forest resources

forest resources: 

• forests cover 30% of earth land area 
• are often the climax community in ecological succession 
• temperature determines the type of forest found 
• they provide ecological services + reosurces that benefit human survival 
• productions from trees: developing + developed countries reliant on products from trees
• paper, timber firewood, gum, cattle fodder, resin, drigs, fruit 

global climate change: 

• deforestation is second biggest source of greenhouse gases 
• the worlds forest trees + soils contain twice as much carbon as in the earth atmosphere 

hydrological cycle: 

how do forests regulate the water cycle?

• they release water via transpiration 
• they slow down raindrops, reducing rainsplash, infiltration, erosion + overland flow 
• they act as vast water source 

biodversity: 

• tropical rainforest canopies sustain 40% of all life on earth 
• biodiversity is essential for ecological stability + as a source of genes 

forest resource: 

soil conservation: 

• trees intercept rainfall, slowing it down + storing it via evaporation reduce volume of water reaching the soil 
• tree roots bind the soil 
• leaves add DOM to the soil, increasing its water holding capacity 

microclimate: 

• trees provide shade, thus forests are cooler than non forest areas during day 
• important for organisms adapted to live in forest 
• trees reduce wind speed 
• recreation + anemity 

forest production: for timber, paper trees grown in plantations 

natural woodland: irregualr shaoe, multi species, variable light levels, native species, accessible

plantation: edges are straight, monoculture, trees of all ages, low light levels, low wildlife value 

forest production: 

consumption of forest products in MEDCs + LEDCs 

MEDCs - import huge volumes of hardwood, then convert them into high value products, also import softwood for paper making 

LEDCs - export roundwood + import expensive finihsed products, high volume of woods used as fuelwood in LEDCs 

growing trees for paper manufacture: 

why use conifers?  fibres in wood be easily seperated giving smooth paper, conifers can withstand low temps/high rainfall, faster growing than native deciduous species 

problems caused by plantations: access difficult for walkers, unattractive, exotic species attract little wildlife, dont blend in with natural landscape 

deforestation:

causes: harvesting >MSY, sufficient…