CHAPTER 13 FORESTS

RETURNING TREES TO HAITIRepairing a forest ecosystem one tree at a time

RETURNING TREES TO HAITIRepairing a forest ecosystem one tree at a time13

At the end of this chapter you will know:• Characteristics of and

structure for forest biomes.

• How species are adapted to survival at each level.

• Current state of and potential action to improve our forests.

Learning Outcomes

13

Main Concept

RETURNING TREES TO HAITIRepairing a forest ecosystem one tree at a time

The high economic value of forests must be balanced with management practices that allow us to harvest forest resources without destroying the ecosystem and its potential for sustainable resources.

13 RETURNING TREES TO HAITIRepairing a forest ecosystem one tree at a time

Case study: In less than a lifetime, parts of Haiti have gone from productive agriculture to barely subsistence farming. Without the protective qualities of forests, tropical storms hit harder and mudslides have become dangerously destructive. To counter the effects of lost forests, communities are coming together to plant trees, so ecosystem services can be restored.Efforts at solutions: With assistance from American ecologists, communities in Haiti are planting a mix of fruit and timber trees.

Each member of the community has responsibility for their own saplings in anticipation of the day when sustainable forestry becomes the bridge between the needs of people and of nature.

13 RETURNING TREES TO HAITIRepairing a forest ecosystem one tree at a time

Case study: In less than a lifetime, parts of Haiti have gone from productive agriculture to barely subsistence farming. Without the protective qualities of forests, tropical storms hit harder and mudslides have become dangerously destructive. To counter the effects of lost forests, communities are coming together to plant trees, so ecosystem services can be restored.Efforts at solutions: With assistance from American ecologists, communities in Haiti are planting a mix of fruit and timber trees.

Each member of the community has responsibility for their own saplings in anticipation of the day when sustainable forestry becomes the bridge between the needs of people and of nature.

History: European settlers arrived 500 years ago. Each century, the formerly lush green forests were cleared for coffee and sugar plantations for sale to overseas markets, and to provide fuel for heating and cooking in Haiti.

11 RETURNING TREES TO HAITIRepairing a forest ecosystem one tree at a time

The impact over the years has been a 98% loss of original forests, loss of top soil, undrinkable water, and the creation through resource loss of one of the poorest countries in the world.

Problems to be addressed: Forests provide so many services (food, energy, building materials, agricultural areas, etc.) that alternative sources for these materials and services must be found, so the forests have time to regenerate.

History: European settlers arrived 500 years ago. Each century, the formerly lush green forests were cleared for coffee and sugar plantations for sale to overseas markets, and to provide fuel for heating and cooking in Haiti.

13 RETURNING TREES TO HAITIRepairing a forest ecosystem one tree at a time

The impact over the years has been a 98% loss of original forests, loss of top soil, undrinkable water, and the creation through resource loss of one of the poorest countries in the world.

Problems to be addressed: Forests provide so many services (food, energy, building materials, agricultural areas, etc.) that alternative sources for these materials and services must be found, so the forests have time to regenerate.

Forest biomes are determined by temperature and precipitation13

TERMS TO KNOW:Deforestation

Forests cover about 30% of Earth’s landmass and support more than

50% of the terrestrial life on the planet and more than 60% of our

photosynthetic leaves.

Forest biomes are determined by temperature and precipitation13

Largest terrestrial biome, high elevations, low

latitudes, short growing season, acidic soils, major

trees are evergreens.

Boreal Forest (Taiga)Each type of forest biome has a slightly different range of temperature and precipitation.

Forest biomes are determined by temperature and precipitation13

Distinct seasons, fertile soil, rich and diverse plant life,

trees are predominantly evergreens and deciduous.

Temperate ForestEach type of forest biome has a slightly different range of temperature and of precipitation.

Forest biomes are determined by temperature and precipitation13

Tropical ForestEach type of forest biome has a slightly different range of temperature and of precipitation.

Distinct seasons, fertile soil, rich and diverse plant life,

trees are predominantly evergreens and deciduous.

Forest biomes are determined by temperature and precipitation13

TERMS TO KNOW:Boreal forestsTemperate forestsTropical forestsCanopyEmergentUnderstoryForest floor

Volunteers planting 25,000 donated trees in Mahotiere, Haiti, to combat soil erosion.

Distinct seasons, fertile soil, rich and diverse plant life,

trees are predominantly evergreens and deciduous.

Tropical Forest

Forest biomes are determined by temperature and precipitation13

Forests have a distinctly layered structure: canopy—overlapping trees making up the ceiling of the forest; emergent—taller trees peeking out from the canopy; understory—shade-tolerant and possibly forming a second canopy; and floor—often nutrient-rich area of flowers and seedlings along with decomposing leaf litter.

Forest biomes are determined by temperature and precipitation13

Forests have a distinctly layered structure: canopy—overlapping trees making up the ceiling of the forest; emergent—taller trees peeking out from the canopy; understory—shade-tolerant and possibly forming a second canopy; and floor—often nutrient-rich area of flowers and seedlings along with decomposing leaf litter.

Forest biomes are determined by temperature and precipitation13

Forests have a distinctly layered structure: canopy—overlapping trees making up the ceiling of the forest; emergent—taller trees peeking out from the canopy; understory—shade-tolerant and possibly forming a second canopy; and floor—often nutrient-rich area of flowers and seedlings along with decomposing leaf litter..

Forests provide a range of goods and services and face a number of threats13

One of the commercial uses of forestry in Haiti is production of charcoal that is used by villagers and also sent to the city as a major fuel source.

Charcoal ignites more easily than wood and is used extensively.

The Haitians themselves were destroying their habitat by slow cooking wood to make charcoal.

They were also increasing their incidence of respiratory disease and contributing greenhouse gases through the processing and use of wood for charcoal. Charcoal sellers in the Carrefour Feuilles

district of Port-au-Prince

Forests provide a range of goods and services and face a number of threats13

Along with the economic potential of the trees themselves, other organisms at each level of the forest also provide critical services through chemical cycling.

Soil is formed by the forest as leaves and branches decay.

The product of decomposition is a nutrient-rich forest floor that can support a wide variety of other plants that, in turn, support consumer diversity.

Barahona Coast, Dominican Republic

Forests provide a range of goods and services and face a number of threats13

Rich plant life also pulls a large amount of CO2 from the atmosphere, using it for photosynthesis and storing it as potential energy.

This is the energy we release when we burn wood.

The soil created by the forest processes anchors plants to the ground. Plants held in place pick up, process, and store both nutrients and toxins.

Forests provide a range of goods and services and face a number of threats13

TERMS TO KNOW:RunoffCarbon sinks

Ecosystems contribute to the daily functioning of Earth’s natural services and to the well-being of humans and other animals. Calculations of ecosystem worth place it higher than the entire global economy.

Ecosystem servicesEconomic valueSociocultural benefits

Ecosystem servicesEconomic valueSociocultural benefits

Forests provide a range of goods and services and face a number of threats13

TERMS TO KNOW:RunoffCarbon sinks

Ecosystems contribute to the daily functioning of Earth’s natural services and to the well-being of humans and other animals. Calculations of ecosystem worth place it higher than the entire global economy.

Ecosystem servicesEconomic valueSociocultural benefits

Forests provide a range of goods and services and face a number of threats13

TERMS TO KNOW:RunoffCarbon sinks

Ecosystems contribute to the daily functioning of Earth’s natural services and to the well-being of humans and other animals. Calculations of ecosystem worth place it higher than the entire global economy.

Ecosystem servicesEconomic valueSociocultural benefits

Forests provide a range of goods and services and face a number of threats13

TERMS TO KNOW:RunoffCarbon sinks

Ecosystems contribute to the daily functioning of Earth’s natural services and to the well-being of humans and other animals. Calculations of ecosystem worth place it higher than the entire global economy.

Forests provide a range of goods and services and face a number of threats13

TERMS TO KNOW:RunoffCarbon sinks

Reasons for deforestation:Harvesting forests for wood and wood productsConversion of forests for agricultureUrbanization and energy needs in the city

Forests provide a range of goods and services and face a number of threats13

Reasons for deforestation:Harvesting ConversionUrbanization

Forests provide a range of goods and services and face a number of threats13

Reasons for deforestation:Harvesting ConversionUrbanization

Forests can be managed to protect or enhance their ecological and economic productivity13

TERMS TO KNOW:Hectares (ha)Maximum sustainable yieldMultiple-Use Sustained-Yield ActForest ecosystem management (FEM)

History of forest management:

Gilford Pinchot – Introduced the idea of sustainable forestry (1905).

Maximum Sustainable Yield – Harvest only as much as can be sustainably produced or replaced.

Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act – Mandates that national forests be managed to balance multiple (sometime conflicting) uses (1960).

Forest Ecosystem Management (FEM) – Manage the ecosystem as a whole rather than focusing on timber yields (present).

Forests can be managed to protect or enhance their ecological and economic productivity13

TERMS TO KNOW:Hectares (ha)Maximum sustainable yieldMultiple-Use Sustained-Yield ActForest ecosystem management (FEM)

Ways to harvest trees from a forest – Each has trade-offs between economic realization and environmental impact.

Forests can be managed to protect or enhance their ecological and economic productivity13

TERMS TO KNOW:Hectares (ha)Maximum sustainable yieldMultiple-Use Sustained-Yield ActForest ecosystem management (FEM)

Ways to harvest trees from a forest – Each has trade-offs between economic realization and environmental impact.

Technique – Clear-cutting

Forests can be managed to protect or enhance their ecological and economic productivity13

TERMS TO KNOW:Hectares (ha)Maximum sustainable yieldMultiple-Use Sustained-Yield ActForest ecosystem management (FEM)

Ways to harvest trees from a forest – Each has trade-offs between economic realization and environmental impact.

Technique – Clear-cutting

Forests can be managed to protect or enhance their ecological and economic productivity13

TERMS TO KNOW:Hectares (ha)Maximum sustainable yieldMultiple-Use Sustained-Yield ActForest ecosystem management (FEM)

Ways to harvest trees from a forest – Each has trade-offs between economic realization and environmental impact.

Strip harvesting

Forests can be managed to protect or enhance their ecological and economic productivity13

TERMS TO KNOW:Hectares (ha)Maximum sustainable yieldMultiple-Use Sustained-Yield ActForest ecosystem management (FEM)

Ways to harvest trees from a forest – Each has trade-offs between economic realization and environmental impact.

Strip harvesting

Forests can be managed to protect or enhance their ecological and economic productivity13

TERMS TO KNOW:Hectares (ha)Maximum sustainable yieldMultiple-Use Sustained-Yield ActForest ecosystem management (FEM)

Ways to harvest trees from a forest – Each has trade-offs between economic realization and environmental impact.

Forests can be managed to protect or enhance their ecological and economic productivity13

TERMS TO KNOW:Hectares (ha)Maximum sustainable yieldMultiple-Use Sustained-Yield ActForest ecosystem management (FEM)

Ways to harvest trees from a forest – Each has trade-offs between economic realization and environmental impact.

Select harvesting

Forests can be managed to protect or enhance their ecological and economic productivity13

TERMS TO KNOW:Hectares (ha)Maximum sustainable yieldMultiple-Use Sustained-Yield ActForest ecosystem management (FEM)

Ways to harvest trees from a forest – Each has trade-offs between economic realization and environmental impact.

Select harvesting

Forests can be managed to protect or enhance their ecological and economic productivity13

TERMS TO KNOW:Hectares (ha)Maximum sustainable yieldMultiple-Use Sustained-Yield ActForest ecosystem Management (FEM)

Ways to harvest trees from a forest – Each has trade-offs between economic realization and environmental impact.

Shelterwood harvesting

Forests can be managed to protect or enhance their ecological and economic productivity13

TERMS TO KNOW:Hectares (ha)Maximum sustainable yieldMultiple-Use Sustained-Yield ActForest ecosystem Management (FEM)

Ways to harvest trees from a forest – Each has trade-offs between economic realization and environmental impact.

Shelterwood harvesting

Forests can be managed to protect or enhance their ecological and economic productivity13

TERMS TO KNOW:Hectares (ha)Maximum sustainable yieldMultiple-Use Sustained-Yield ActForest ecosystem management (FEM)

Trees planted during restoration included moringa (a fast-growing nitrogen fixer), mango, avocado, and citrus trees, followed last by plantings of slow-growing timber trees.

There are several ways to protect forests, but each comes with trade-offs13

TERMS TO KNOW:Ecotourism

With reforestation under way, only part of the problem is addressed; people also still need a source of energy.

One approach is to price the ecosystem service being lost as a component of the wood being harvested. Money from higher costs is returned to the landowners.

Higher utility bills in the urban centers could generate funding that can be applied to maintaining the rainforest.

For example, the rainforest purifies water. With each piece of the rainforest given over to agriculture, water purification is reduced.

There are several ways to protect forests, but each comes with trade-offs13

TERMS TO KNOW:Ecotourism

Applying the intrinsic value of nature, forests are being translated into income through tourism.

PERSONAL CHOICES THAT HELP13

UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE13

UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE13

ANALYZING THE SCIENCE13

ANALYZING THE SCIENCE13

299,378 . 7,000,000,000

Productive Functions of Forest Resourceswww.fao.org/dorep/013/757e/i1757e00.htm

EVALUATING NEW INFORMATION13

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) www.fsc.org

MAKING CONNECTIONS13