Primary Resource ActivitiesForestry

Timber Harvesting Methods

There are three main ways that forest resources are managed: Clear cutting

Strip-cutting

Selective cutting

Logging companies try to operate in a manner that saves them the most money. Governments have put regulations in place to protect forest resources from total destruction.

Clear cutting

Clear cutting – The practice of cutting down all the trees on a site. This leaves the ground unprotected against erosion and is unattractive.

Strip-cutting

Strip cutting – The practice of cutting down all the trees in a forest 20m to 100m wide, leaving uncut strips of forest in between.

Selective Cutting

Selective cutting – The cutting down, at intervals, of mature trees in a forest of mixed age. This type of forest management mimics natural processes in that the canopy is maintained while timber is produced.

Forest as a Resource

Forests cover almost 1/3 of Earth’s land surface.

Forests have many uses Fuel

Paper

Timber

Pulp

Deforestation

In comparing these maps with the chart (also found on pages 162 and 164 in your textbook)

What connection do you see between climate and forest cover?

What connection do you see between deforestation and climate?

What can we learn from this?

Tropical climates tend to have more forest cover

Dry climates have less forest

There is a great deal of pressure being put on the forests in Africa, Central and South America, and Asia.

These are also areas with high population densities which can lead to deforestation as cities spread into forested regions.

Developed nations in more moderate climates tend to have greater control over their forest resources. This could be attributed to higher levels of education among the general population and more direct involvement in government by the people through the democratic process.

Threats to Forest Resources

By far the most severe and complex threat to forest resources is deforestation.

Deforestation – the conversion of forested land to other uses.

Deforestation occurs for several reasons:

Land is converted for agricultural use

Overcrowding in countries with large populations (people need space to live)

Mining operations

Hydro-electric power developments require land for flooding and dam building.