Forestry

Question 1

What are the differences between coniferous and deciduous trees?

Answer 1

Coniferous:
- Tend to produce ‘softer woods’
- Tree examples: pine, spruce, cedar, fir
- Coniferous forests account for 63% of forests
- Shaped like cones

Deciduous:
- Tend to produce ‘harder wood’
- Tree examples: poplar, ash, birch
- Deciduous forests account for 22% of forests; the remaining forests are “mixed forests”
- Deciduous trees drop their leaves

Question 2

What type of trees do they use for lumber?

Answer 2

Hardwood trees.

Question 3

What type of trees do they use for pulp and paper?

Answer 3

Soft wood trees.

Question 4

Define clear cutting and give pros and cons.

Answer 4

Clear cutting is when loggers remove all trees in an area and replant trees that grow uniformly.

Pros:
- Fast and Cheap

Cons:
- Causes erosion in the landscape

Question 5

Define shelter wood logging and give pros and cons.

Answer 5

Shelter wood logging involves cutting on parts of an old growth forest.

Pros:
- No replanting needed
- Trees regenerate

Cons:
- Can damage and degrade the value of trees from the equipment

Question 6

Define Selective wood logging and give pros and cons.

Answer 6

Selective wood logging harvests only mature trees of the desired size, type and quality.

Pros:
- Much less destructive to the forest environment
- No replanting needed

Cons:
- Costly process
- Takes more time