Environmental Science: forest resources

Overview of forest resourcesThe division of the forest types of forest vegetation types are mainly based on the ecological advantages Some flora is important in the world • Temperate con

Group 1

Forest Resources

1 Overview of forest resources

2 The importance of forests for environment

3 Common causes of deforestation

4 Forest loss and management

5 The forest resources in Vietnam

6 Issues of exploitation and use forests in Vietnam

1 Overview of forest resources

Forest is one of the most important parts constituting the biosphere

It has an extremely important role in creating the

landscape and have a strong impact to the climate

factors, land

1 Overview of forest resources

Standpoint theory of ecosystems, the forest are seen as a

typical ecosystems in the biosphere (Temslay, 1935: Vili, 1957; Odum, 1966)

On the other hand, Based on the theory of the forest of

Morodov Sukasov, the forest are a Biogeocenose

Two theories are not different in the nature They are

recognized and used in research of the forest

Forests are also of great significance in the development of economic, social, ecological and environment

1 Overview of forest resources

The formation of forest types are closely related to the formation of natural vegetation with geographical and climatic conditions

In each forest type is formed, the climate, soil, moisture will determine the composition and structure of the

potential development of vegetation

1 Overview of forest resources

The division of the forest types of forest vegetation types are mainly based on the ecological advantages

Some flora is important in the world

• Temperate coniferous forests with a relatively homogenous, lower yields than the tropics, they are mainly distributed in North America, Europe, North China and some tropical mountains The trees are mainly pine, spruce, fir

1 Overview of forest resources

 Temperate deciduous forest is distributed at low and tropical regions, mainly in northeast America, South America, Asia Europe, a part of China, Japan, Australia

1 Overview of forest resources

 Tropical rain forests are distributed mainly in the equatorial region of the Amazon Basin (South America), the Congo River (Africa), India, Malaysia Because of the complexity of

changing rainfall patterns, monsoon and temperature, the

tropical forest are often very complex in both composition and structure of forest

1 Overview of forest resources

Based on the nature and purpose, the forest is divided into three types

1 Protection forests are used for the purpose of protecting water, soil, prevent erosion and mitigate natural disasters, climate regulation, protection of ecological environment Protection forest divided into three types, watershed

protection forests, forest protection against sand and forest protection of coastal waves

1 Overview of forest resources

2 Special use forests are used for special purposes such as

nature conservation, genetic conservation of forest flora and fauna, in service of scientific research, protection of

historical, cultural and scenic for tourism It includes national parks, nature reserves, cultural and historical sites

1 Overview of forest resources

3 Production forests, including forest type used for wood

production, forest animals and associated ecological environment protection

1 Overview of forest resources

Forests is an important resource, forests provide raw

materials for human and base economic resources of many ethnic in the world Exploitation of forest resources has

contributed an important part in economic and social

development of many countries around the world

 Forest resources are plentiful and diverse, including

biological resources, land, climate and landscape

 The exploitation and utilization of forest resources in the

world depends on technology, traditions and social customs

of each region and each country

2 The importance of forests for environment

 Forests are the most important component constituting

Biosphere In addition to significant plant and animal

resources , , the forest is also a geographical factor which is essential in nature, it plays vitally important role in the

landscape and have strong impact to the land climate factors Therefore, it is not only has the function of forests in economic development, social but also of special significance in

environmental protection

2 The importance of forests for environment

 1 Forests are the obstacles to the transport of wind and affect speed and direction of wind In general, if h is the height of

the forest range, the incidence of forests to reduce wind speed significantly within 50-10 h in direct side and 20 - 30h in

indirect side.

2 The importance of forests for environment

 2 Forest not only blocks wind but also clean s the air and have a great influence on carbon cycle in nature.

 3 Forests also contribute significantly reduces noise

For example a 50 m wide strip of trees beside the road has the

potential to reduce noise 20 -30 dB

 4 Forest has special meaning to the importance of balance oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

2 The importance of forests for environment

 Forest created a sub-climate environment well to human

health Forests reduces the temperature and increases

humidity Especially many species can secrete substances with bactericidal action phitoxin special pine (Pinus sp), camphor (camphora cinamonmun), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus), cinnamon (cassia Cinnamonmun)

 Forest with the role of watershed protection, soil protection against erosion Vegetation have an important function in

preventing a fall to the ground and rain water has a role in the redistribution of this water

3 Common causes of deforestation

 Commercial logging companies cut down mature trees that have been selected for their timber The timber trade defends itself by saying that this method of 'selective' logging ensures that the forest regrows naturally and in time, is once again

ready for their 'safe' logging practices (WWF)

 Removing a felled tree from the forest causes even further destruction, especially when it is carried out carelessly It is believed that in many South East Asian countries 'between 45-74% of trees remaining after logging have been substantially damaged or destroyed

3 Common causes of deforestation

 The reason these people are referred to as 'shifted' cultivators

is that most of them people have been forced off their own land For example, in Guatemala, rainforest land was cleared for coffee and sugar plantations The indigenous people had their land stolen by government and corporations They

became 'shifted cultivators', moving into rainforest areas of which they had no previous knowledge in order to sustain

themselves and their families (Colchester & Lohmann)

3 Common causes of deforestation

 The creation of national parks has undoubtedly helped to

protect rainforests Yet, as national parks are open to the

public, tourism is damaging some of these areas

 Often, national parks are advertised to tourists before

adequate management plans have been developed and

implemented Inadequate funding is allocated for preservation

of forests by government departments Governments see

tourism as an easy way to make money, and therefore tourism

is encouraged whilst strict management strategies are given far less government support

4 Forest loss and management

 Anthropogenic factors that can affect forests include

logging, urban sprawl, human-caused forest fires, acid rain, invasive species, and the slash and burn practices

of swidden agriculture or shiftin cultivation

 Expand the area of agricultural land to meet food production

 Demand for fuelwood

 Grazing

4 Forest loss and management

The loss and re-growth of forest leads to a distinction between two broad types of forest, primary or old-growth forest and secondary forest There are also many natural factors that can cause changes in forests over time including forest fires

insects, diseases, weather, competition between species, etc

In 1997, the World Resources Institute recorded that only 20%

of the world's original forests remained in large intact tracts of undisturbed forest.More than 75% of these intact forests lie in three countries - the Boreal forests of Russia and Canada and the rainforest of Brazil

5 The forest resources in Vietnam

 Statistics in Vietnam show that 19.2 million hectares are forest land of which 9.3 million hectares are forested area, and 10 million hectares are denuded hillsides and barren lands.

 Figures assumed to apply around 1995 (Editor).

- Special-use forest 1.2 0.9 0.3

- Protection forest 8.0 3.5 4.5

- Production forest 9.9 4.9 5.0

5 The forest resources in Vietnam

 Forest cover in various areas/regions of Vietnam

 The differences in climatic conditions from equatorial areas to tropical ones as noticed in Vietnam and its elevations from sea level to mountains of over 3,000 m high, have caused the indigenous plant and forest resources to differ in terms of tree composition, forest types and forest cover

- Red River Delta 4

- North Central Vietnam 35

- Coastal South Central Vietnam 35

- Western High Plateaux 56

- East South Vietnam 21

- Mekong Delta 5

5 The forest resources in Vietnam

 Changes in forest resources and prospects in the year 2010

 Looking back to the year 1943, one can find that the forest cover at that time was not less than 43% Satellite imageries obtained in 1973 thaw that the forest area amounted then to 9.5 million hectares, accounting for a cover of 29% Statistics from the years 1981 and 1982, gained through the interpretation of photos from Landsat in 1979-1981 and from KATE 140 during the same period, show that the forested area was then 7.8 million hectares covering 28% of total land The forested area in 1995 and the

forest cover during the same year look almost the same as in 1989.

5 The forest resources in Vietnam

Table 1 Regional variations forest cover (2005)

5 The forest resources in Vietnam

(%)

Red River Delta 8.4

Northwest 37.8

Northern Central Coast 46.7

Southern Central Coast 38.1

5 The forest resources in Vietnam

 Forest area in Viet Nam has changed significantly in recent

decades (Figure 1) Total forest cover dropped from 43.3

percent in 1943 to 33.8 percent in 1976 and 27.8 percent by

1990 In absolute terms, almost 2 million hectares of forest were lost between 1976 and 1990; a net deforestation rate of over 142 000 hectares per year A turning point came in 1995 when forest area increase exceeded forest loss (mostly due to new plantations), and overall forest cover increased from 28.2 percent in 1995 to 36.7 percent in 2004

5 The forest resources in Vietnam

 Total forest area : 10,915,592 ha (forest coverage: 33.2%)

 Natural forest : 9,444,198 ha (occupies 86.5% of forest area)

 Protection forest : 4,812,671 ha,

Special-use forest : 1,463,746 ha,

Production forest : 3,167,781 ha

 Plantation forest : 1,471,394 ha (occupies 13.5% of forest area)

 Protection forest : 537,997 ha,

Special-use forest : 61,122 ha,

Production forest : 872,275 ha

5 The forest resources in Vietnam

5 The forest resources in Vietnam

6 Issues of exploitation and use forests in Vietnam

 Table 1 Plantation area focused 1990-2000 In Area

years (1000 ha) area (Previous year 100%) Index

6 Issues of exploitation and use forests in Vietnam

 Table 2 Timber production 1990 - 2000

years production In timber

( 1000 tonnes)

Index (Previous year 100%)

6 Issues of exploitation and use forests in

 Improve the environment: climate control, reduce co2, forest protection, to avoid erosion

 As fuel for a number of industries such as forest product

processing, paper production, furniture making

 Ecotourism development: national forests, ecological reserves, biological reserves

 For scientific research, conservation of rare plants and

animals, ecosystem development …

6 Issues of exploitation and use forests in Vietnam

 Causes of forest degradation in Vietnam

- Burn shifting cultivation: nomadic life, the total area of forest lost each year is

about 40 - 50% is due to burn shifting cultivation In Dak Lac in the period from 1991

- 1996 average loss of 3000-3500 ha of forest per year, of which over half the forest area lost due to shifting cultivation.

6 Issues of exploitation and use forests in Vietnam

 Causes of forest degradation in Vietnam

Land under the land to produce crops business, especially deforestation for the cultivation of industrial crops such as coffee in the Central Highlands make up 40 - 50% forest loss in the region

6 Issues of exploitation and use forests in Vietnam

 Causes of forest degradation in Vietnam

- Overexploitation beyond the natural resilience of the forest

6 Issues of exploitation and use forests in Vietnam

 Causes of forest degradation in Vietnam

- Due to the impact of bombs and toxic chemicals during the war,

particularly in the south have destroyed about 2 million ha of natural forests

6 Issues of exploitation and use forests in Vietnam

 Causes of forest degradation in Vietnam

- Do not plan mining, fishing techniques obsolete waste of forest resources

6 Issues of exploitation and use forests in Vietnam

 Causes of forest degradation in Vietnam

- Due to forest fires, especially mangrove forests, pine forests, deciduous dipterocarp forest