FORESTRY CH 1Introduction to Forestry Science by Burton

Biological, Political, and social sciences along with business & management skills contribute to the field of study known as forestry

30% of land area is forest land.

Importance of Forests

• Biological Value • Commercial Value• Energy Source• Domestic & Wildlife Range• Recreation & Wildlife

Biological Value of Forests

• Forest- an area where trees are the most dominant living organisms.

• Monoculture- single species forest

• Biodiversity- multiple kinds of trees grown in an area

Layers in Forest• Strata- several layers of vegetation• Canopy- tall broadleaf trees that form the ceiling, upper layer

• Understory- area beneath the canopy filled with smaller trees

Layers of the Forest

• Shrubs- lower strata inhabited by small woody plants

• Herb Layer- shortest plants, such as ferns, grasses, and flowering plants.

• Forest Floor- composed of a layer of litter or decaying plant material.

• Biological value – takes into account the worth of all of the life forms in the forest. It also includes the value of important natural functions of forests such as effects on climate, watersheds, water temperature, soil erosion, and wildlife.

Forests

• During Summer• Provides shade• Cooler temperatures

• During Winter• Warmer Temperatures• Restriction of air flow• Transpiration – loss of water from leaf surface

Biological Value

• Watershed – a region where water from rain and snow is absorbed into the soil.

• Medicines • Many derived from plant material today• Forest offers potential for new medical cures.

Commerical Value of Forests• Renewable resource- it is capable of re-growth following use (ex. Forest)

• Nonrenewable resource – is permanently used up when it is consumed (ex. Coal)

• 42% of timber harvested – used for lumber• 28% of Pulpwood - paper products • 20% of Fuelwood • 8% Timber – plywood & veneers• About 2% - forest product consumption.

Lumber Production

• Remained constant since the beginning of this century at about 150 million cubic meters

• Accounts for about 6% of the gross national product (GNP)

• Domestic timber on decline• Importing from Canada

Energy Source• Wood is the most important source of heat in many countries of the world.

• Commercial use• Convert Wood to Coke (a wood product obtained by heating wood to temperatures in excess of its combustion temperature using large ovens which oxygen is excluded.

• The product is capable of buring at very high temperatures (ex: Charcoal Briquettes).

Heat• High-Density woods are more efficient than low-density woods because they produce more heat per cord.• Softwood – Small percentage used for fuel• Hardwood – nearly ½ used for fuel

• Pollution from particulate matter – tiny particles in smoke

• Biomass power- the wood harvested from biomass plants may be chipped, dried, & burned to produce steam for the purpose of generating electricity.

Domestic & Wildlife Range

• Multiple Uses Strategy• Grazing• Mining• Logging• Wildlife• Recreation

Stream

• Riparian zone- land adjacent to bank of stream, river, or other waterway• If overgrazed, can cause soil erosion, which contaminates surface water

• Silt- tiny particles of soil – when suspended in water it can:• Destroys fish spawning areas• Kills young fish when muddy for extended periods of time.

Why would you go to the forest?

Recreation and Wildlife

• Opportunities• Fishing• Boating• Hiking• Mountain Biking• Horseback Riding• Photography• Camping

Outdoor Recreation• Has become a huge industry• Derives money from:

• Sale of Food, Services, or supplies near forest lands

• Production of retail products• Tents• Camp stoves• Boats• Fishing supplies

History of the Forest Industry

• Production of mast timbers for the construction of ships was among the earliest commercial forest enterprises in America.

• Broad Arrow Policy- 1691 – reserved all trees that were 24” in diameter & located on public land for the king’s navy.• Bark marked with large arrows• Impose large fines if you dared to cut them.

History continued

• New Congress (after Revolutionary War)-• Encouraged sale of public land for revenue

• Public land outside the original 13 states and Texas were surveyed and attempts to sell

• Minimum Price $1 per acre & Minimum purchase of 640 acres.

• Price was to high. Land sale was a failure.

History

• Moving West• Forest land was cleared to make farmland• Causing an excess supply of timber• Once seen that forests may be destroyed for good. Congress established forest reserves that it vigorously protected.

• States established forest boards and commissions.

History

• Division of Forestry was established in the Department of the Interior.

• Gifford Pinchot – new administrator on July 1, 1898.• He believed that forests should be wisely used, but not abused.

• This was different from popular belief that forest need to be preserved for future generations.

History

• Pinchot• Succeeded in transferring forest reserves from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Agriculture in 1905.

• 1905 – name of Division of Forestry changed to Forest Service.

• The forest management philosophy of Gifford Pinchot still influences forest management today, after more than 100 years.

History

• Forest are highly regulated today• Forest research is an important tool in managing forests for sustained yields.

• Environmental considerations have a strong influence on how forests are managed today, and is likely that this influence will continue into the next century and beyond.

Assignment

• Please use the information you learned about the history of Forestry to create a timeline. I do realize not everything has dates, but it does have time periods. Also use the class set of books or internet to discover more about the history of forestry, and add those to your timeline.

• Everyone's assignment should be different based on what you include in your timeline.

• This should be completed on a white piece of paper.