Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Forests, Parks and Landscapes


The Landscape Concept: The Landscape Concept Landscaper Perspective The concept that effective management and conservation recognizes that ecosystems, populations and species are interconnected across large geographic areas


Modern Conflicts over Forest Land and Forest Resources: Modern Conflicts over Forest Land and Forest Resources Silviculture: the the professional growing of trees Forests benefit people through public service functions: functions performed by ecosystems for the betterment of life and human existence Ex) cleansing of air by trees


The Life of a Tree: The Life of a Tree How a Tree Grows Photosynthesis, Transportation Systems, Evapotranspiration Tree Niches Determined by Water content in the soil Forest tolerance of shade There is no single best set of conditions for a forest


A Forester’s View of a Forest: A Forester’s View of a Forest Old-Growth Forest: a forest that has never been cut Second-Growth Forest: has been cut and re-grown Foresters group trees into: - Dominants, Codominants, Intermediate and Suppressed Sites are classified by site quality: the maximum timber crop the site can produce in a given time


Clear-Cutting: Clear-Cutting The cutting of all trees in a stand at the same time Controlled cutting 4 types: Shelterwood-Cutting Seed-Tree Cutting Selective Cutting (thinning) Strip-Cutting


Plantation Forestry: Plantation Forestry Plantation: a stand of single species planted in straight rows Currently provide a large percentage of wood use – and growing Properly managed plantations can relieve pressure on forests


Sustainable Forest: Sustainable Forest Def: Efforts to manage a forest so that a resource in it can be harvested at a rate that does not decrease the ability of the forest ecosystem to continue to provide that same rate of harvest indefinitely. There are few examples of this. The “certification of sustainable forestry” developed. This involves: Determining which methods appear most consistent with sustainability Comparing the management of a specific forest with those standards


4 Ways Vegetation Can Effect the Atmosphere:: 4 Ways Vegetation Can Effect the Atmosphere: Changing color of the surface and the amount of sunlight reflected and absorbed Increasing the amount of water transpired and evaporated from the surface to the atmosphere Changing the rate at which greenhouse gases are released from the Earth’s surface into the atmosphere Changing the “surface roughness,” which affects wind speed at the surface


Deforestation: Deforestation History – dates back to Roman and Greek times. In modern times S. America is biggest loser Causes:1) clearing land for agriculture and ranching 2) sale of timber World Firewood Shortage- 63% of wood produced is used as firewood. Major energy source in sub-Sahara Africa,Central America,, S.E. Asia Indirect Deforestation- air pollution mainly acid rain; disease; bug infestation; Global Warming?


Parks, Nature and Wilderness: Parks, Nature and Wilderness Wilderness: an area undisturbed by people. No development permitted Managing parks for biological conservation is a relatively new idea. Parks that are too small or in the wrong shape may not be able to sustain their species


Administration of Federal Lands: Administration of Federal Lands Bureau of Land Management –Interior US Forest Service – Agriculture US Fish & Wildlife Service – Interior National Park Service – Interior Other:- Dept of Defense, Bureau of Land Management


Major US Lands: Major US Lands