GREEN EUROPE

F orest is a large area of land covered with trees or other woody vegetation Hundreds of more precise definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing and ecological function. According to the widely used. United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization definition, forests covered four billion hectares (15 million square miles) or approximately 30 percent of the world's land area in Depending on the criteria forests can be divided in various ways, eg. Taking into account climate and vegetation zone system, in a very brief way forests can be divided into:  F orest moderate zone,  F orests, dry tropical zone,  F orests of the tropics,  F orests of the temperate zone

Afforestation, according to FAO, is “the artificial establishment of forests on land which previously did not carry forests” Europe has deforested the majority of its historical forests. The European Union (EU) has paid farmers for afforestation since 1990, offering grants to turn farmland back into forest and payments for the management of forest. The map shows overall afforestation in Europe in

Removals Renewals and Afforestation

Available timber resources in European countries: Between 1993 and 1997, EU afforestation policies made possible the re- forestation of over 5,000 square kilometres of land. A second program, running between 2000 and 2006, afforested more than 1000 square kilometres of land (precise statistics not yet available). A third such program began in Europe's forests are growing by 0.8 million ha a year thanks to these programmes.

Desertification

While water scarcity and droughts may not be as severe in Europe as in many regions they do represent a serious and growing threat. Water scarcity and droughts are becoming increasingly important issues in Europe. Desertification results in public supply restrictions, reductions in crop production, effects in water dependent ecosystems and loss of wetlands and decrease of recreational activities. Water scarcity results in the long-term need to assess and prioritise water demands.

Crooked Forest, Poland

Crooked Forest is a grove of oddly- shaped pine trees. This young forest was planted around 1930 and has about 400 pines. It is generally believed that some form of human tool or technique was used to make the trees grow this way, but the method and motive are not currently known. Some believe that the woods were deliberately grown this way to make “Compass Timbers”, or trees that are deliberately shaped for the purpose of using those odd shapes in ship building. Another theory is that tanks from WWII are the cause, rolling over the young trees snapping the stem, but still surviving, forcing them to grow in the direction they were ran over.

The Ardennes Forest

The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges in Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. The land is covered by thick forests and rugged terrain. The region is rich in timber, minerals, and wild game. The Ardennes holds a strategic position in Europe. For this reason, a large number of famous battles have been fought on the land.

The Hoia-Baciu Forest

The Hoia-Baciu Forest is located near Cluj-Napoca, Romania and is locally referred to as the Bermuda Triangle of Romania. The forest was named after a shepherd that disappeared in the area with two hundred sheep. Most people who live near the forest are afraid to enter. They believe that those who visit the site will never return. Many of the locals who have gone into the forest complain of physical harm, including rashes, nausea, vomiting, migraines, burns, scratches, anxiety, and other unusual bodily sensations.

SOURCES: forests/ biomass-is-thicket-of-trouble/ br/destinospopulares/europa/b%C3%A9lgica.aspx br/destinospopulares/europa/b%C3%A9lgica.aspx %2Fwiki%2FAfforestation&h=vAQGto9RJ %2Fwiki%2FAfforestation&h=vAQGto9RJ ctivities%2Fdesiras%2Fdesertification-in-europe%2F&h=vAQGto9RJ own knowlage

Karolina Kania Katarzyna Jab ł o ń ska Laura Zdybel kl.Id IX Liceum Ogólnokszta ł c ą ce im.Miko ł aja Kopernika w Lublinie. MADE BY: