SECTION 11.5 FOREST RESOURCES AND MANAGEMENT IN THE U.S. Jonathan Wigfall & Tyrone Curtis.

SECTION 11.5FOREST RESOURCES AND MANAGEMENT IN THE U.S.

Jonathan Wigfall&

Tyrone Curtis

Forest Status in the U.S• Forest Cover more area than they did in 1920

--- currently about 30% of the U.S land area • provide habitats for more than 80% of

country’s wildlife species• supply about two-thirds of nation’s total

surface water• By 2000 protected forest made up 40% of the

country’s total forest area

Reducing Harmful Effects of Insects and Pathogens on U.S. Forests

• Inspecting imported timber• Removing diseased and infected trees• Using chemicals and natural predators to

help control insect pests• Develop tree species that are genetically

resistant to common tree diseases

INSECT AND PATHOGEN THREATS TO U.S. FOREST

• Sudden Oak Death• White pine blister rust• Pine Shoot Beetle• Beech Bark disease• Hemlock woolly adelgid• Multiple air pollutants (smog from fires, etc.) make trees

susceptible to disease, drought ,and insects

Fires affect U.S. Forests-Three types of fires can affect forest ecosystems.

• Surface fires- burn undergrowth leaf litter on forest floor, provide ecological benefits- i.e. release valuable mineral nutrients

• Crown fires – most dangerous, allows litter to build up, rapid burning at high temp. destroy vegetation & kill wildlife

• Ground fires – most common in northern peat bogs; smolder for days/weeks hard to detect & extinguish

SURFACE FIRESBurn away flammable ground material and help prevent

more destructive fires.Help control pathogens & insects

Spare most mature trees and allow most wild animals to escape

Fires aren’t considered a dangerous and destructive force, universally, b/c there are benefits

Fire Recovery

• Snags - (standing dead trees)

and fallen trees recycle nutrients in the forest ecosystem

-they provide habitats for organisms but when they fully decompose, the stored nutrients within the tree(s) end up back in the soil

Reducing forest Damage from Fire

TWO WAYS TO HELP PROTECT FOREST

•PREVENTION•PRESCRIBED BURNING

-SETTING CONTROLLED SURFACE FIRES-ALLOWING FIRES ON PUBLIC LANDS TO BURN UNLESS THEY THREATEN HUMAN LIVES-CLEARING SMALL AREAS AROUND BUILDINGS

Managing the Forest• Timber companies push to cut while

biodiversity experts suggest a reduction and use of forest management practices

• Between 1930 and 1988 timber harvesting increased sharply

(Since 1950 --- demand for wood has doubled)

• U.S is the largest importer of wood products• 2/3 of the wood consumed in the U.S. is

wasted unnecessarily

Logging in U.S. National Forests

• Provides Local Jobs

• Provides only 4% of timber

• Increases environmental damage

• Hinders Recreation