Forestry

Question 1

What are the ecosystem services provided by forests?

Answer 1

1. Clean the air
2. Filter water supplies
3. Control floods and erosion
4. Sustain biodiversity and genetic resources
5. Provide opportunities for recreation, education, and cultural enrichment

Question 2

What are the primary biomes found in Canada’s forests? What are some general features about the forests in Canada?

Answer 2

Canada’s forests primarily contain three types of biomes.
1. Pacific Coastal Temperate Rainforests
2. Boreal Forest - covers roughly 50% of land base and spans across all provinces
3. Temperate Deciduous Forests.

The Canadian boreal forest sustains a rich and varied plant life.
- most carbon-dense terrestrial ecosystem on earth
- forests are interspersed with rock barrens, freshwater lakes and wetlands

Question 3

What are techniques used in forestry? What are their benefits and limitations regarding conserving species?

Answer 3

There are two types of harvesting.
1. Selective Cutting - impact on biodiversity is reduced
- more expensive and time consuming.
2. Clear Cutting - allows more sunlight for younger trees and removes older trees that are more susceptible to diseases
- fragmented habitat may be challenging for animal species utilizing the forest.

Question 4

What are some features of an old growth forest? A second growth forest?

Answer 4

Old Growth Forest:
1. large, live trees are found in the area
2. large, dead trees partially fallen
3. large logs found on forest floor
4. multiple, vertical layers representing different age structures

Second Growth Forest:
1. results from regeneration of tree species that occurs after a natural disturbance
2. more closely spaced
3. more vegetation on the forest floor
4. less biodiversity (less structural complexity)