Forests and Forestry. Chapter 9 4/20/2009. Chapter 9: Outline. The Earth s Forests

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1 Chapter 9 Forests and Forestry Chapter 9: Outline Canada s Forest Ecosystems distribution socio-economic importance ecological importance harvesting systems human impacts Forest Sustainability Special trees need for protection Canada s National Forest Strategy towards sustainable forestry The Earth s Forests Global distribution: 27% (3.4B Ha) Classification: tropical, temperate, boreal Economic value of forest products: $400B US annually Forest products: fuel, oils, medicine, building materials, pulp and paper Consumption: 0.7 m 3 /year

2 Forests in Canada Harvesting Systems

3 Silviculture Timber bias Silviculture: the theory and practice of controlling the establishment, composition, growth, and quality of forest stands Forests have traditionally been viewed as sources of timber and log supply centres Sustained yield: - timber should be cut no faster than new trees can grow - an even flow of timber can be maintained BUT volume peaks before quality! Ecological Importance of Forests ecosystem connectivity Photosynthesis: cycling of oxygen and carbon dioxide 6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight C6H12O6+ 6O2 nutrient cycling: live trees, snags, fallen trees carbon storage GHG reduction keys to diversity

4 Canada s West Coast Forests Canada s Temperate Rain Forest Clayoquot Sound, Vancouver Island conflict over forest values and issues of environmental and economic sustainability Coastal temperate rain forests are rare The largest forest ecosystem in the world (and one of the world s largest biomes), spanning Canada, the US, and Eurasia (some 12 million km 2 ) It covers about 50% of Canada and about 70% of Canada s forested and wooded areas

5 Contains important wetlands and river courses, for example some of Canada s largest river systems It is home to 2.5 million Aboriginal and non-aboriginal people, including over 600 First Nations communities Provides breeding grounds for birds, such as waterfowl Houses various mammals, including caribou, wolves, bison, etc The forest purifies air and helps to regulate climate through its vegetation and soils It is one of the world s largest sources of fresh water 9-18 Affected by: forestry - 50% of Canada s wood harvest mining - about 50% of Boreal forest land Other threats: climate change, ozone depletion, acid deposition overcutting, exploitation hydroelectric development Also affected by: air and water pollution, radioactivity disruption of habitats threats to endangered species insect infestation etc

6 Canada s Carolinian Forest Canada s Carolinian Forest Situated in Ontario, north of Lake Erie, < 10% of the area remains in forest cover due to clearance since European settlement > 95% of it is privately owned < 1% is in national and provincial parks The Need for Protection Legislation in Canada: provincial and federal jurisdictions Deforestation in Canada Ecological responsibility Balanced use Controversies in Canadian forest management: Forest Based Industries in Canada Timber Uses Non-timber uses lumber tourism value added wood recreation products renewable forest pulp and paper products fuelwood intrinsic values Temagami Pine Forest COSEWIC Species at Risk

7 Threats to Forest Ecosystem Health over harvesting, habitat fragmentation Central Swan Hills (1949) Central Swan Hills (1964) Central Swan Hills (1991)

8 Threats to Forest Ecosystem Health Towards Forest Sustainability: Challenges and Solutions pollution, acid deposition deforestation for agricultural production loss of biodiversity it consumer pressures lack of knowledge other? Challenges: jurisdictional overlap in Canada continuing deforestation: global, local socio-economic dependence on forestry budget reductions Towards Forest Sustainability: Challenges and Solutions Sustainable Forest Management Solutions: alternative products: hemp value added wood products renewable forest resources Precautionary Principle

9 Critical Elements of Sustainable Forestry in Canada International Initiatives Ecological: Conservation of biodiversity Maintenance of forest ecosystem productivity Conservation of soil, water resources Forest contributions to global ecological cycles Forests role in reducing GHGs Socio-economic: sustained multiple benefits to society society s responsibility for sustainable forests National Initiatives Canada and the World: Timber Harvest Canada ranked 6th in the 2006 EPI, using 0.7% of roundwood production compared to the standing volume of forest

10 Canada and the World: CO 2 per GDP Canada ranked 9th for its emissions of 168 metric tonnes of carbon emissions per million GDP in constant 1995 U.S. dollars