Exam: Forest and Agriculture Flashcards
Primary vs Secondary forest
Only 36 % of forest area are primary forests
Primary forest = intact natural forest remained unmodified by human activity for … a long time (temperate 60-80 yrs, tropical 400-500 yrs)
Secondary forest (or second-growth forest) = re-grown after timber harvest (when the effects of the disturbance are no longer evident)
It is distinguished from an old-growth forest (primary or primeval forest), which has not recently undergone such disruption, and complex early seral forest, as well as third-growth forests that result from harvest in second growth forests.
Forest regrowing after timber harvest differs from regrowing after natural disturbances such as fire, insect infestation, or wind throw. Dead trees remain to provide nutrients, structure, and water retention after natural disturbances. However, often after natural disturbance the timber is harvested and removed from the system, in which case the system more closely resembles secondary forest rather than complex early seral forest.
FAO
FAO:
Forest and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.
FAO’s four Sustainability Indicators for forests:
FAO’s four Sustainability Indicators for forests:
- Ecosystem condition and productivity
- Sustainability forest management
- Maintaining ecological integrity and biodiversity
- Economic and social benefits
Forests’role in international climate work:
- Carbon
- Demand for land
- Way forward for forest and land
FAO definition of a forest
Forest’ is:
- a minimum area of land of 0.05-1.0 ha
- tree crown cover (or equivalent stocking level) of more than 10-30 per cent
- trees with the potential to reach a minimum height of 2-5 meters at maturity
It is not only defined by tree coverage but also by other land-use in the same area.
hectare to m2
1 ha = 100x100 m = 10 000 m2
FRA
FRA:
Forest Resources Assessment
Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015 Sustainability indicators FRA* 2015 : 1. Ecosystem condition and productivity 2. Sustainability forest management 3. Maintaining ecological integrity and biodiversity 4. Economic and social benefits
- Ecosystem condition and productivity
- Change in forest area
- Natural and planted forest area change
- Partial canopy cover loss and forest degradation
Share of land-use:
[%] Land: 29, Ocean: 71 Land: Habitable land: 71 Habitable: Agricultural: 50, Forest: 37 Agricultural: Livestock: 77, Crop: 33
Global forest land cover:
1700: 40%
2015: 35%
Much was lost between 2000 and 2015
Gain and loss of forest:
Gain in richer countries
Loss in porer/developing countries
Sustainable Forest Management (4):
• Long term planning • Forest management plans • Forest management certification - Independent verification • Forest monitoring and reporting
Maintaining ecological integrity and biodiversity:
- Conservation and protected areas
- Biomass and carbon stock changes
- Protection of soil, water and environmental services
The Cropland Conversion Program (China):
Background:
• halt soil erosion in the Loess Plateau
• protect down-stream rivers (hydro-power)
• re-vegetated China
Implementation:
• convert slope to forest and grassland
• provide grains and money as compensation until 2008
(•Compensation to land users for 8 yrs)
Cropland Conversion Program:
• Massive policy (40 billion US dollars)
• Total 20 million ha all provinces
• 7.2 million hectares of former agricultural land
- Shaanxi Converted most land, 0.82 million ha of former agricultural land
Socio-economic function of forest resources:
• Economy ◦ Employment ◦ Values generated through processing ◦ Energy ◦ Trade
• Cultural ◦ Spiritual ◦ Recreational ◦ Indigenous and community ◦ Traditional knowledge
Forest ownership in 2010:
Public: 76%
Private: 20%
Unknown: 4%
