Mada za sehemu hiiSustainable Use Of Forest ResourcesMada 3
- Importance of Forestry Resources
- Types of Forestry Resources
- Problems Associated with Forestry Resources Harvesting
Forest refers to an extensive area of land, which is mostly covered by trees of different sizes and species.
Forest is a dense growth of trees, plants and undergrowth covering a large area of land. Forests can be natural or man-made (planted).
Sustainable use of forest means to maintain and enhance the economic, social and environmental values of all types of forests, for the benefit of present and future generations.
- Forests prevent soil erosion; trees and grasses prevent movement of agents of erosion like water, winds, and moving ice.
- They maintain water sources like rivers, catchment areas, springs, and lakes. This is due to the fact that forests support rain formation.
- Forests are also used for scientific studies (research).
- Where there is a variety of trees, tourism can develop because of scenic beauty.
- Forests provide habitats for animals and birds of different varieties.
- Forests contribute to the modification of the climate especially through rain formation and moisture conservation.
- Forests also introduce oxygen in the environment, which is produced during photosynthesis. In this process, the trees clean the air by absorbing carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is the raw material used during photosynthesis.
- Trees are also a source of fuel energy since they are used for firewood and charcoal making.
- Forests also provide raw materials for paper and pulp industries from which writing materials are produced.
- They provide building material like poles and timber.
- Tropical rainforests: They are found around the equator, between 23.5°N and 23.5°S. Trees in the tropical rainforests are tall and often take a very long time to mature. They consist of indigenous trees, which are typically broad-leaved, and they contain thick undergrowths of shrubs and other vegetation.
- Temperate forests: These forests occur in the mid latitudes of both hemispheres. There are four distinct seasons in temperate deciduous forests; precipitation falls throughout the year as rain in the spring, summer, and fall, and snow in the winter.
- Coniferous forests: Coniferous forests are typically found in coastal areas with mild winters and heavy rainfall or in inland mountainous areas with mild climates with temperatures that fluctuate little throughout the year. Evergreen conifers dominate these forests.
- Boreal (taiga) forests: These are the northernmost forest type and are found between 50°N and 60°N. Boreal forests are characterized by long winters and short summers. Most precipitation is in the form of snow.
- Soil: Different types of soil offer various types of vegetation. For example, a damp and marshy soil will favor growth of types of trees such as mangroves, which are generally found on the coastal areas of the tropics or subtropics.
- Rainfall: Water is an essential component of all living organisms. Trees need water for various physiological functions such as photosynthesis and cooling. Hence, it is essential for growth and development of any particular vegetation.
- Temperature: The warm and wet equatorial climate supports the growth of mainly huge, tall, deciduous trees. The cooler temperate climate supports needle-leaved trees which are adapted to that particular climate.
- Relief: Relief refers to variation in altitude in an area. Differences in altitude along the slope of a mountain bring about differences in the type of forests along a mountain slope. For example, you will always find dense forests on the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro gradually.
- Aspect: In physical geography, aspect generally refers to the horizontal direction to which a mountain slope faces. The slope of a mountain facing the direction of prevailing winds (windward side) will always receive higher amounts of rainfall than the slope facing the opposite side (leeward side).
- Drainage: If the soil has too much water, plants cannot get enough oxygen from the soil. This will affect root respiration and the plants may eventually die.
Human activities such as clearing the vegetation to get land for agriculture or settlement greatly affect the distribution of forests. Man has cleared most of the natural forests of the world.
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