GEOGRAPHY O LEVEL(FORM TWO) NOTES – SUSTAINABLE USE OF FOREST RESOURCES

SUSTAINABLE USE OF FOREST RESOURCES

EXPLOITATION OF FOREST RESOURCES

Forest refers to an extensive area of land mostly covered by trees of different sizes and species. It is also covered by some grasses and shrubs.

Forests can be natural or man-made (planted)/artificial forests.

Importance of forests

1. Forests form a protective cover to the ground and hence prevent soil erosion from degrading the earth’s surface. Trees and grasses prevent movement of agents of erosion like water, wind, and moving ice.
2. Forests provide habitats for animals and birds of different varieties.
3. Forests contribute to climate modification, especially through rain formation and moisture conservation.
4. Forests introduce oxygen into the environment, produced during photosynthesis. Trees clean the air by absorbing carbon dioxide, which is the raw material used during photosynthesis.
5. Trees are a source of fuel energy, used for firewood and charcoal making.
6. Forests provide raw materials for paper and pulp industries, from which writing materials are produced.
7. They provide building materials like poles and timber.
8. Some tree species are used for making medicine and also provide fruits as well as ornamental flowers.
9. Forests contribute to soil development through rotting leaves, which leads to the formation of humus. Humus is very important for plant growth.
10. Trees are used for extracting gums.
11. They maintain water sources like rivers, catchment areas, springs, and lakes because forests support rain formation.
12. Forests are used for scientific studies (research).
13. Where there is a variety of trees, tourism can develop because of scenic beauty, enabling the country to gain foreign money.

CLASSIFICATION OF TREES

There are two classifications of trees:

1. Hardwood, i.e., Tropical rainforest, Deciduous rainforest (monsoon forest)
2. Softwood, i.e., Coniferous forests

TYPES OF FORESTS

a) Tropical hardwood forest

Tropical rainforest found in equatorial regions [latitude forest]

Tropical monsoon forest

b) Deciduous forest

c) Coniferous forest

A. TROPICAL HARDWOOD FOREST

Tropical rainforest

Extends approximately 10°N and south of the equator, e.g., The Amazon in Brazil, Congo basin, Coastal land of West Africa.

These trees have an evergreen appearance and include varieties such as Mahogany, Rosewood, and Greenheart. There is little undergrowth.

Trees are arranged in layers:

1. Emergent (very tall trees)
2. Canopy (taller trees)
3. Under canopy (smaller trees)

Tropical monsoon forests

Found in Southeast Asia:

• Malaysia
• Indonesia
• Papua
• New Guinea
• Burma
• Thailand
• Subcontinent of India

These trees grow in areas of seasonal drought and shed their leaves during the dry season. There is a thick undergrowth of shrubs and small trees such as:

• Teak
• Greenheart
• Ebony
• Bamboo
• Ironwood

B. DECIDUOUS FOREST OR TEMPERATE LATITUDE FORESTS (Summer green forests)

Located between latitude 30°N and south of the equator.

These trees shed their leaves in autumn (dry season).

The leaves are broad, and there is a mixture of different species scattered irregularly throughout the forest such as:

• Oak
• Leech
• Elm
• Chestnut
• Maple
• Aspen
• Poplar
• Birch

They are found in:

• Northern China
• Japan
• Eastern North America
• Southern part of Australia

C. CONIFEROUS FORESTS

Found between 50° and 70° north of the equator, mainly softwoods such as:

• Pines
• Spruce
• Fir
• Larch

These trees have narrow, needle-shaped leaves to limit transpiration (loss of water through stomata pores) during winter. They are evergreen, have an inverted V-shape, simple root patterns, and cone-shaped trees.

They are mainly found in:

• North America
• Scandinavian countries, parts of central Europe, and parts of the former USSR

Types of forest resources

1. Timber
   Used for making furniture, construction works, match making for pit props, and producing wood pulp for newsprints and crayons. In Brazil, 30% of timber is used mainly for furniture, harbor piles, dock gates, boat building, and tanning extractions; 70% is used for fuel.
2. Resins and gum
   Obtained from tree barks.
3. Fiber materials
   Used for stuffing upholstery cushions and other purposes.
4. Oil from nuts
   Processed for vegetable oil.
5. Fruits and flowers
   Used for human and animal consumption.
6. Medicinal plants
   Including castor oil plant, sarsaparilla, and cinchona, used for making genuine medicines.

Ways of obtaining forest resources

1. Uncontrolled method
2. Controlled method

Uncontrolled method

Plant cover is removed over an extensive area, leaving the land open and vulnerable to erosion agents, e.g., using fires, shifting cultivation, deforestation.

Controlled method

Governed by government directions which discourage the use of fire and encourage sustainable development of forests for the benefit of people and the creatures inhabiting such places. Includes reafforestation, i.e., planting trees to replace harvested forest resources.

Problems arising from exploitation of forest resources

Overexploitation of forest resources can cause the following environmental problems:

1. Increase in soil erosion
   Raindrops fall harshly on exposed soil and remove fertile soil.
2. Excessive evaporation
   Causes drought as streams and springs dry up.
3. Destruction of animal habitat.
4. Accelerated desertification
   Caused by prolonged drought since absence of forest affects rain formation.
5. Pollution of the atmosphere leading to greenhouse effect and global warming, e.g., when forests are cleared by burning, adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
6. Disappearance of some tree species (loss of biodiversity).
7. Unreliable rainfall due to excessive evaporation.

Forest conservation measures

1. Planting trees where others have been cut (reafforestation) and planting trees where none existed before (afforestation). Setting aside protected areas.
2. Educating people on the importance of conserving forests and encouraging full participation in conservation activities. Clear policies should guide proper use of forest resources.
3. Using alternative energy sources instead of depending on trees, e.g., solar energy, geothermal power, biogas, and hydroelectric power (HEP).
4. Careful land use planning to avoid destruction of trees. Population control should be encouraged to reduce pressure on forest resources and land.
5. Improving agricultural methods to encourage proper land use; discouraging shifting cultivation.
6. Encouraging destocking (reducing the number of animals) among pastoralists to prevent vegetation destruction.
7. Introducing new and fast-growing trees. Agroforestry involves intercropping trees and crops on the same farm, e.g., beans, bananas.

Advantages of intercropping trees with crops (agroforestry)

1. Trees prevent soil erosion while crops like beans add nutrients to the soil.
2. A farmer gains multiple profits from the same farm: forest products and crop products.
3. Family members get firewood near the homestead without traveling far.
4. Trees provide shade to other plants on farmland.
5. Rotten trees add nutrients to the soil, improving soil fertility.

Disadvantages related to agroforestry

1. Large trees can reduce annual crop production by taking most moisture, nutrients, and blocking light.
2. Some trees produce poisonous substances harmful to crops.
3. Mechanization is difficult due to the presence of trees.

Examples of areas with timber industry

• Sweden
• Canada
• Some parts of Japan where coniferous trees provide most forest resources. 60% of Canada is covered by forests, with major species including Oak, Chestnut, Spruce, and Pines.

Factors which have led to the development of the timber industry

1. Low temperature discourages settlement, leaving room for trees.
2. Enough rainfall supports growth of coniferous forests.
3. Availability of capital.
4. Cheap means of transport.
5. Sound forest management strategies.

In Gabon

Hardwood species available include:

• Mahogany
• Ebony
• Ironwood

These are natural forests.

Factors which have led to the development of the timber industry in Gabon

1. Availability of many tree species.
2. Rivers like Ogowe facilitate transportation of timber products.
3. Large foreign companies with concessions to exploit forests have capital.
4. Constant market for timber products.