Forestry

Question 1

Type of forests to discuss

Answer 1

Broadleaf woodland, Tropical rainforest, Mangrove forest

Question 2

Forest resources

Answer 2

food, fuel, fibres, medicines, building materials, water

Question 3

Forest ecosystem services

Answer 3

atmospheric regulation, regulation of the water cycle, creation of microclimates, habitat provision, soil conservation, carbon sequestration

Question 4

Examples of forest medicines

Answer 4

Cinchona tree - quinine - malaria
Willow tree - aspirin - pain relief
Mexican Yam - steroids - contraceptive pill
Yew tree - taxol - breast cancer

Question 5

Examples of forest food

Answer 5

Cacao (chocolate), Pineapples, brazil nuts, coffee, bananas, turmeric, cinnamon

Question 6

How do forests regulate the atmosphere?

Answer 6

Lots of trees/vegetation, high rates of photosynthesis, removal of CO2, production of O2, reduction of greenhouse gases, carbon sequestration

Question 7

How do forests regulate the hydrological cycle?

Answer 7

Vegetation increases interception, slows down and reduces surface runoff, increases infiltration, slows down groundwater flow, responsible for transpiration.

Question 8

How do forests cause microclimates?

Answer 8

Forest microclimates have reduced wind velocity, higher humidity and reduced extremes of temperature than surrounding areas.

Question 9

How do forests provide habitats and refuge?

Answer 9

Each species of tree supports specific communities. Forests provide many diverse habitats and many ecological niches. Forest stratification (canopy layers) provide areas with different light levels, wavelength absorbance and temperature

Question 10

How do forests help soil conservation?

Answer 10

DOM contributes humus and nutrients to the soil and food energy for detritivores, trees reduce soil erosion by wind and rain splash impact, root binding affect, humus also has a bing effect, forest soils have more organic matter, therefore more worms, more aeration, more infiltration and less runoff erosion

Question 11

How do forests provide recreational and amenity use?

Answer 11

Activities include walking, cycling, orienteering, high ropes, camping, bird watching and foraging.

Question 12

Standard trees

Answer 12

trees grown to maturity for large pieces of timber for construction

Question 13

Traditional forest management

Answer 13

Growing standard trees, coppicing, pollarding

Question 14

Coppicing

Answer 14

The process of regularly cutting down tree branches close to ground level. The regrowth produces thin straight branches. It was traditionally done on a cycle of six to ten years for making fence panels and wall panels. Short-rotation willow coppice is now used as a biofuel.

Question 15

Pollarding

Answer 15

The process of regularly cutting down tree branches above ground level, usually to prevent the regrowth being eaten by animals such as livestock or deer. It is usually done on a cycle of 5 to 30 years.

Question 16

Forest plantations

Answer 16

often single species, non-indigenous, closely planted and the same age. Primary reason of a plantation is timber production, often fast growing softwood

Question 17

Deforestation

Answer 17

The action of removing trees, resulting in a reduction in forest area.

Question 18

Reasons of deforestation

Answer 18

Clearance for Agriculture, cattle ranching, cash crops, mining/mineral extraction, HEP and reservoirs, urbanisation, transport infrastructure, resource (timber, fuel)

Question 19

Effects of deforestation

Answer 19

Loss of forest resources, reduced biodiversity, extinction of species, fragmentation, changes to water cycle, less infiltration, increased runoff, increased soil; erosion, less DOM, increased albedo, reduced carbon sequestration, changes to rainfall patterns.

Question 20

Sustainable forest management

Answer 20

afforestation, mixed indigenous species, mixed age structure, selective logging, coppicing, pollarding, debt for nature swap, biological corridors, designations, eco-tourism, education programmes, sustainably certified wood products eg FSC stamp, sustainably certified food products eg Rainforest Alliance

Question 21

Afforestation

Answer 21

Planting trees to increase the area of forest.