Forests of the World:Economic, Social and Environmental Values

Tim WhiteSchool of Forest Resources and Conservation

138 NZ Hall, UF, IFAS846-0850; tlwhite@ufl.edu

June, 2011

Objectives

1. Importance of Forests:• Economic benefits• Social benefits• Environmental benefits

2. Forests of the World• Global trends• State of the world’s forests• Types of forests

3. Forests of Florida4. Discussion 5. References for Your Use

Importance and Benefits from Forests

Forests

EconomicValues

SocialValues

EcologicalValues

WoodProducts

Non-TimberProducts

Social & Ecological Services

Domestic Uses

Recreation

Aesthetics & Spiritual

H2O & Soil Amelioration

Habitats & Biodiversity

Climate Mitigation

Objectives

1. Importance of Forests:• Economic benefits• Social benefits• Environmental benefits

2. Forests of the World• Global trends• State of the world’s forests• Types and distribution of forests

3. Forests of Florida4. Discussion 5. References for Your Use

Global Demand for WoodConsumption is Growing

• Up 1.6% annually (up 60% by 2030)• 50/50 for domestic/industrial wood

• 80% of consumption is for industrial purposes in developed countries• 80% of consumption is for domestic use in developing countries

• Both uses (domestic and industrial) will continue to be important• 10,000 products made from wood

Global Demand and Supply of Wood• World’s population is growing• World’s demand for wood is growing• World’s area of forests to meet demand is shrinking• Forest-to-people ratio:

1960 = 1.2 ha per capita (3 acres/person)2005 = 0.6 ha per capita (1.5 acres/person)

8090100110120130140150160170

1980 1990 2000 2010

Total Wood ConsumptionWorld PopulationForest Area

% o

f 198

0 va

lues

Non-Wood Forest Products:150 Products Traded Globally

Medicines and herbs

Chemicals: Dyes, turpentine, latex …

Crafts, fodder, decoratives, other …

Edibles: Food, drink, flavors, spices

Other Global Forest Values:Demand is Growing!

Recreation: hunting, fishing, hiking Ecotourism (7% of global tourism) Ecosystem services Conservation of biodiversity

(11% of world’s forests)Half of all terrestrial carbon is in forests

Half of world’s biodiversity lives in TRF

Two-thirds of all species live in forests

Local Peoples:350 Million Live in Forests

Home, livelihoods, medicines, construction, fodder, etc.

Objectives

1. Importance of Forests:• Economic benefits• Social benefits• Environmental benefits

2. Forests of the World• Global trends• State of the world’s forests• Types of forests

3. Forests of Florida4. Discussion 5. References for Your Use

State of the World’s Forests• 4 billion ha of forests (10 billion acres)• 30% of global land area• Important on all continents

State of the World’s Forests Forests grow where climates and soils permit Current distribution also reflects historical deforestation

associated with colonization: Now 50% of original area

9%

47%

11%

33%

High Species Richness

Low Species Richness

State of the World’s Forests: Global Deforestation and Degradation

Deforestation 30 to 50% loss of total forest area

in last 8,000 yrs Last 50 years

1.2 ha/person in 1960 0.6 ha/person in 2005

Current annual net deforestation 8 million ha (20 million acres) 2/3 of Florida

Roads lead to access

Degradation High grading of valuable timber Unsustainable harvest levels Poor practices leading to soil

erosion, loss of wildlife habitat, etc.

Settlement in tropical dry rainforest

State of the World’s Forests: Global Deforestation and Reforestation

Current deforestation mostly in developing countriesDeforestation in TRF could mean extinction of 100 species per day

State of the World’s Forests:Mitigating Climate Change

World Resources Inc, PAGE, 2000

Objectives

1. Importance of Forests:• Economic benefits• Social benefits• Environmental benefits

2. Forests of the World• Global trends• State of the world’s forests• Types of forests

3. Forests of Florida4. Discussion 5. References for Your Use

Types of Forests in the World:Native or Natural Forests

90% of the world’s forests• Undisturbed or second-

growth• Managed or unmanaged

11% of the world’s forests are in reserves: Parks, national forests, wilderness areas, conservation reserves

Tropical Rain Forests

Temperate Rain Forests

National Parks and ForestsNative Working Forests

Types of Forests in the World:Planted Forests or Plantations

• Reforestation & afforestation• 4% of the world’s forest area• Supply 30% of industrial wood• Grow faster than native forests• Have less biodiversity• Half the plantations are for fuelwood

Seedling of E. grandis

3.5 yr plantation

6 yr plantation harvest

E. grandis:Breeding, Reforestation & Silviculture

• Natural Range (Red): Coastal NSW & Queensland• Exotic Range (Yellow): 10MM ha in > 30 countries• Most widley planted tree species

Clonal Forestry: First-Cycle Program

Clonal Forestry: Mass Selection

Clonal Testing: Pure Species & Hybrids

Operational Propagation of Tested Clones

Crop and Product Uniformity

Types of Forests in the World:Other Types of Forests

Urban Forests Agroforests

Forested Wetlands

Types of Forests in the World:Forested Area by Different Types

Types of Forests:The World Needs All Types

Conservation Reserves

Primary Forests

Managed OldGrowth Forests

Intensively Managed Regrowth Forests

Plantations

Economic Value

Ecol

ogic

al V

alue

11%

5%

Objectives

1. Importance of Forests:• Economic benefits• Social benefits• Environmental benefits

2. Forests of the World• Global trends• State of the world’s forests• Types of forests

3. Forests of Florida4. Discussion 5. References for Your Use

Forests in Florida

By far, the most important land use:• Half of FL land area is forested• Mostly in N FL• Pastures are distant second (17%)

$16 billion/yr industry (#1 “crop”)$8.0 billion/yr for hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing$1.8 billion/yr in recreation and ecotourism at FL parksPine straw, palmetto, silvopastures Critical ecological services

Forests in Florida:Increasing Demands For All Goods & Services

Population: 16 million people• Fastest-growing state east of MS River• 28 new people per hour (400,000/yr)• 92% live in urban areas, mostly in S FL

Increasing Demands for:• Large quantities of high quality water• Jobs and products• Biomass for energy and fuels• Recreation and other social services• All ecosystem goods and services

Forests in Florida: Urbanization!

Decreasing Forest Land Area• Losing 40,000 acres per year (mostly to urbanization)

1960: 4 acres of forests per person 2000: 1 acre of forests per person

Forests in Florida: Urbanization!

Increasing Fragmentation of Rural Forests• Increasing WUI (1 out of 5 acres in FL in WUI)• Impacting wildlife and bird populations• Increasing role of fire• Impacts of rural development

Increasing Role of Urban Forests• Microclimate amelioration• Stormwater runoff• Recreation• Aesthetics• Psychological benefits

Forests in Florida:Production and Protection

Production Forestry• Meet demands from fewer acres (timber, fiber, NTP, energy)• Increase production efficiency of plantations• All in sustainable manner (BMPs, certification, etc)

Conservation Programs• State buying 2 million acres (1/8 of all forest land) + easements• FL already owns more forest land than any other state in south• Manifests desire of citizens to support conservation

Conclusions:Forests are Important in this World!

All types of forestsNative forests, plantations, agroforests, urban forests

All forest productsTimber, paper, medicinals, recreation, hunting, homes

All forest practicesPreservation, conservation, production, multiple use

All forest usesReserves, family forests, industrial timberlands, city parks, etc.

All forest valuesSocial values (recreation, water & soil quality, homes for people)Economic values (products, jobs, direct and indirect impact)Environmental values (C sequestration, habitats, biodiversity)

Importance and Benefits from Forests:Need to Understand Human Dimensions to Realize these Benefits

Forests

EconomicValues

SocialValues

EcologicalValues

WoodProducts

Non-TimberProducts

Social & Ecological Services

Domestic Uses

Recreation

Aesthetics & Spiritual

H2O & Soil Amelioration

Habitats & Biodiversity

Climate Mitigation

Discussion

References and WebsitesBoyle, J.R. 1999. Planted forests: views and viewpoints. New Forests 17: 5-9.Diesen, Magnus (ed).1998. Economics of the Pulp and Paper Industry. Fapet Oy Publishing, Helsinki, Finland. 186 pp.Earth Trends, World Resources Institute 2007. http://earthtrends.wri.org/Evans, J. 1992. Plantation forestry in the tropics. Clarendon Press, Oxford. 403p.FAO Forest Assessment 1990. Global synthesis . FAO Paper 124. Rome. 1995.FAO Forest Assessment 1990. Tropical plantations. FAO Paper 128. Rome. 1995.FAO State of the World’s Forests 2007. http://www.fao.org/forestry/site/sofo/en/FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000. http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/003/X9835e/.FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005. http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/008/a0400e/a0400e00.htmFlorida’s Forest Resources Plan. I. An Assessment. 2005. http://www.fl-dof.com/plans_support/future_forest_resources.html

Florida’s Forest Resources Plan. II. Condition and Trends. 2005. http://www.fl-dof.com/plans_support/future_forest_resources.html

Forestry Encyclopedia Network. http://www.forestryencyclopedia.net/Forestry Figures and Facts. American Forest and Paper Association. http://www.afandpa.org/Fox, T.R. 2000. Sustained productivity in intensively managed plantations. For. Ecol Manage. 138: 202-213.Hagler, R.W. 1996. The global wood fiber equation-- a new world order? Forest Products J. 79:51-54.Hodges, Alan, et al., 2003. Economic impact of the forest industry in Florida. Final Report to the Florida Forestry Association.McLaren, J. (ed) 1999. Issues in Global Timber Supplies. Miller Freeman, San Francisco. 231pp.Sedjo, R.A. 1999. The potential of high-yield plantation forestry for meeting timber needs. New Forests 17: 339-359.Sedjo, R.A. 2001.The role of forest plantations in the world’s future timber supply. Forest Chronicle 77:221-225.Sedjo, R.A and D. Botkin. 1997. Using forest plantations to spare natural forests. Environment 39: 14-20.Spears, J. 1998. Forests at the crossroads: Environmental challenges for Canada in the 21st century. Forestry Chronicle 74: 812-821.Sutton, W.R.J. 1999. Does the world need planted forests? New Zealand J Forestry 44: 24-29.World Conservation Union (IUCN). http://www.iucn.org/World Resources 1994-1995. Oxford Press. 400p