Forest Resources

Question 1

Why is timber a desired material?

Answer 1

High strength:weight ratio, flexibility, require little processing for use and is often readily available
Mahogany and teak (tropical rainforest)
Oak and beech (temperate deciduous forests)
Conifer timber (northern coniferous forests)

Question 2

How are forests exploited for fibres?

Answer 2

Most paper is made form flattened sheets of interwoven cellulose fibres from pulped wood, cotton is made from the fibres that surround the seeds of the the cotton bush and viscose textiles are made by the chemical treatment of cellulose fibres extracted from wood

Question 3

How do forests act as food sources?

Answer 3

Trees- fodder for livestock
Fruits and nuts- food for many species and those species can be food
Forest plant species important in agriculture include: coffee, cacao, bananas, papayas and Brazil nuts, pigs and chickens were originally forest animals

Question 4

How do forests act as fuel source?

Answer 4

Wood is still the fuel that is used by most people in the world for cooking (especially LEDCs)

Question 5

How do forests regulate the atmosphere?

Answer 5

Photosynthesis and respiration, carbons sinks, carbon sequestration, maintains ozone layer via oxygen and carbon store in soils

Question 6

How do forests regulate the hydrological cycle?

Answer 6

Highest transpiration rates increases rainfall downwind, increased interception by foliage (increased evaporation and decreased infiltration), soil formation and reduced erosion allows retaining water

Question 7

How do forests impact the microclimate?

Answer 7

Low albedo increases absorption of sunlight, much of which is radiated as heat at night, this reduces temperature extremes

Question 8

How do forests impact light levels?

Answer 8

Canopy absorbs a lot of solar insulation (particularly blue and red), plants below the canopy have less access to light, so these plants have special adaptations e.g. denser chlorophyll, additional pigments or different growth periods

Question 9

How is wind velocity impacted by forests?

Answer 9

Significantly reduces me and plants rely on animals for pollination and seed dispersal

Question 10

How is humidity impacted by forests?

Answer 10

High humidity means amphibians can habitat there as their skin won’t dry out

Question 11

How do forests help conserve soil?

Answer 11

Roots cause aggregation, humus binds soil, humus and nutrients encourage detritivores and decomposers and interception and wind velocity reduced

Question 12

What are some of the ecosystems services of forests?

Answer 12

Atmospheric regulation, habitat and wildlife refuge, regulation of the hydrological cycle, climate regulation, soil conservation and recreation/amenity uses

Question 13

What have oak, beech, holly, hazel and ash traditionally used for?

Answer 13

Oak- timber framed buildings and ship building
Beech- tools handles and furniture
Holly- walking sticks and maths instruments
Hazel- wall and fencing panels
Ash- roof timber and furniture

Question 14

What is pollarding?

Answer 14

Management method where trees are cut above ground level so the regrowing branches cannot be eaten by wildlife

Question 15

What is coppicing?

Answer 15

Trees cut to the ground every 1-20 years depending on the growth rate of the species and the demand, the branches that regrow were used for baskets, fencing, charcoal, wall panels and roof rafters

Question 16

What are some management methods for modern day commercial forestry?

Answer 16

Single species plantations, close planting, cultivation of non-indigenous species and single age structure

Question 17

How do single species plantations benefit forests?

Answer 17

Mono cultures can make management easier, activities e.g. planting, thinning and felling can be carried out over large areas at the same time

Question 18

What is close planting and how does it benefit?

Answer 18

Planting all the seedlings close together makes the trees compete with each other for light so they grow tall and straight, the low light levels at the ground level inhibits the growth of other plants that may compete with the trees for water or nutrients, the loss of these species that depend upon them reduces the forest wildlife diversity

Question 19

What’s the benefit fo growing non-indigenous species for commercial forestry?

Answer 19

May be better adapted to the environmental conditions, and are less likely to sufferer damage from pests or disease, however inter-species relationships may be reduced leading to reduced diversity

Question 20

What is single age structure?

Answer 20

Planting trees at the same time so they are the same age, size and require same management techniques, leading to lack of habitat e.g. old dead wood is for invertebrates and woodpeckers

Question 21

What are the causes of deforestation?

Answer 21

Agriculture, reservoirs, mineral extractio, urbanisation and infrastructure for transport

Question 22

How does agriculture contribute to deforestation?

Answer 22

1. Increasing local population increases demand so more clearing
   2.commercial cash crop agriculture where the produce may be taken to cities or exported
   e.g. Rainforest clearance in se Asia to grow palm oil
   Rainforest clearance in South America to grow sugar cane and soya or to rear cattle

Question 23

How does infrastructure for transport increase deforestation?

Answer 23

Easier access to take out resources, they can create barriers also and cause population fragmentation

Question 24

What are some resources that are exploited unsustainably?

Answer 24

Fuel, feeding livestock and timber

Question 25

What is softwood?

Answer 25

Produced by confers e.g. Pine, spruce, and fir trees are often produced sustainably with replanting to replace harvested areas in areas e.g. Scandinavia and Canada

Question 26

What is hardwood?

Answer 26

Tear and mahogany grow more slowly than congers so it is more difficult to commercially manage hardwood plantations as it may take longer to produce a saleable crop. a lot of harvested hardwood comes from mixed forests that are completely felled and may not be replanted.

Question 27

What are the ecological impacts of deforestation?

Answer 27

Reduced biodiversity, loss of species and fragmentation of remaining forest areas

Question 28

How does deforestation change hydrology?

Answer 28

Reduced interception/transpiration and increased rungs

Question 29

How is soil impacted by deforestation?

Answer 29

Reduced soil formation, reduced dead organic matter, less protection, increased erosion, reduced root binding and reduced organic matter

Question 30

What are the curate impacts of deforestation?

Answer 30

Increased albedo, reduced carbon sequestration and carbon reservoir and reduced rainfall downwind

Question 31

How are forests sustainably managed?

Answer 31

Mixed species plantations, harvesting rate, selective logging, indigenous species and mixed age structure

Question 32

How do mixed species plantations lead to sustainability?

Answer 32

Wildlife biodiversity increased by growing multiple species because there is increase in food choices, inter-species relationships and niches

Question 33

What are the cons of selective logging?

Answer 33

More expensive, labour intensive

Question 34

How is selective logging beneficial?

Answer 34

Maximum benefit from the timber and good for wildlife as smaller clearing

Question 35

How does indigenous species plantations benefit wildlife?

Answer 35

More likely other indigenous species will benefit

Question 36

How does mixed-age structure benefit?

Answer 36

Greater diversity of abiotic factors, increase biodiversity of other species living in the forest

Question 37

What are the importances of forests?

Answer 37

Resources (timber, food, fuel, fibres, medicines), ecosystem services (atmospheric regulation, hydrosphere regulation, microclimate, habitat and wildlife refuge, soil conservation and recreation and amenity uses)

Question 38

What are the effects of deforestation?

Answer 38

Loss of forest resources, ecological impacts, changes to hydrology, impact on soil and climate impacts