FORESTRFORESTRYY

What is forestry?

• Although there are important woodland areas in middle latitudes, such as the Black Forest of Germany, the main forest belts are those of the humid tropics in the equatorial and monsoon regions; and those in the cold temperate high latitudes.

• The extensive need for paper and other timber products in industrial countries, forested areas are principally seen as sources for such products; this has led to many environmental problems.

• Rainforest –eg. Amazon, Australia

• Coniferous forest – eg. North Canada, Eurasia

• Temperate forest – eg. USA

Different types of forests

Concequenses of deforestation?

• Habitat

•Roads

•Water quality

•Aboriginal rights

Production of Forest Products

in Developing Countries (1995)

Forest product Quantity World production

sawnwood (millions m3)

111 26 %

wood-based panels (millions m3)

45 31 %

pulp for paper (millions tonnes)

41 22 %

paper & paperboard(millions tonnes)

61 22 %

fuelwood & charcoal(millions m3)

1638 89 %

Use of wood

The global distribution of forest plantations by region

Global forest plantation resources by type and area

Consumption

Per Capita Consumption of Forest Products

Region

Softwood

Lumberm3/100

0 people

Panelboards

m3/1000 people

Paper & Paperboa

rdtonnes/1000 people

Population

(millions)

Canada 558 134 202 29.5

U.S. 420 135 325 263.2

W. Europe 168 88 170 391.4

Germany 196 142 200 81.6

Japan 255 104 232 125.1

Top 10 Deforesting Countries

in Terms of Total Forest Loss

countryranking

annual loss

. country rankingannual

loss

Brazil 1 -

2,550,000 . Venezuela 6 -500,000

Indonesia 2 -1,080,000 . Malaysia 7 -400,000

P.R. Congo

3 -740,000 . Myanmar 8 -390,000

Bolivia 4 -580,000 . Sudan 9 -350,000

Mexico 5 -510,000 . Thailand 10 -330,000

Change in consumption over time

Industrial roundwood consumption 1980-2000

Paper and paperboardconsumption 1980-2000

                                                                                                                                                                                    

Real World Prices of Solid Wood Products

Real World Prices of Wood-Based Panels

Real World Prices of Paper and Paperboard

Special Interest Groups - DifferentPerspectives on Tropical Forests

Special interest group

Forestry perspective

environmentalists - concerned about preservation of forests, conservation of biodiversity, and possible negative impacts of development (e.g. flooding, climate change)

small farmers - interested in clearing the forests provides land to grow crops and provides family with economic security

ranchers - interested in clearing the forests to sow pasture for cattle

foresters - interested in managing forests for the sustainable flow of their goods and services and the maintenance of the biological functioning of their ecosystems

loggers - interested in cutting commercial timbers to produce wood products

communities & indigenous peoples

- want more economic benefits from forests, guaranteed access for hunting and harvesting forest products, continued water supply

politicians - developing the forests for agriculture or logging creates immediate jobs, prosperity and tax revenues for government; also temporarily relieves the pressures of need for farm land, jobs, and poverty alleviation

international community - concerned about sustainable economic growth, the future of a world heritage, preservation of forests and their biodiversity

FUTURE?

• Future demand for industrial wood products depends on income growth, population growth, technological change, growth in human capital, changes in tastes and preferences, and institutional and political change

• Projected consumption of nearly 3 billion cubic meters by 2050

• The proportion of global timber from subtropical plantations (presently 10%) may increase to 40% by

2050 • Fuelwood harvests will increase by 17% by 2050

under a low-GDP-growth scenario, but only by 4% under a high-growth scenario

NEFD - National Exotic Forest Description

Current and forecast supply and demand - North and Central America

Current and forecast supply and

demand - South America

Current and forecast supply and demand - Europe

Current and forecast supply and demand - Africa

Current and forecast supply and

demand - Asia

Current and forecast supply and

demand - Oceania

How long can it last?

No-one knows!• ample wood fibre • supply and demand would increase by 2010

demand would significantly exceed availability

• world’s forests are biologically capable of providing industrial wood consistent with consumption Pacific region are adequate to meet future demands,

• non-crisis future situation though not plentiful supplies.

Alternatives

• Steel, plastic, cement, stone for building• Fossil fuel, nuclear or other sources for

energy• Can you think of an alternative to paper

(technology???)

RECYCLE

• Substituting non-wood products for wood products could increase carbon emissions