How Forests are Exploited In the old days (until 1970s) – Lumberjacks cut down trees (30-40 per day) – Logs were floated down the river to mills

After the 1970s – Mechanization = machines do the work – Now a machine operator could cut down 1000 trees a day!

The Problem… These new tools led to too many trees being cut… CLEAR-CUTTING meant cutting away all the trees in an area, leaving NOTHING.

The Compromise: Sylviculture SYLVICULTURE is a way of working with the forest that… – Keeps PRODUCTION HIGH – they still take a lot of trees. – Tries to SUSTAIN THE FOREST RESOURCES so that the forests stay healthy and can keep producing wood. – Uses many different techniques (see page 174)

To SUM it UP 1.Forests are important resources for our economy Forest products bring MONEY to Quebec and Canada The forest industry creates JOBS 2.The way we use the forests has changed a)Old school – Lumberjacks and log-driving b)Mechanization – Machines, clear-cutting c)Sylviculture – Balance, tries to keep forest strong AND still get lots of lumber (LOL)

Forest Territory: Global Issues

Reduction of the World’s Forests 8,000 years ago, forests covered 2/3 of the earth. Today, only 1/3 of the earth is forest.

Deforestation Deforestation is the reduction of forests. It happens because – People need wood (for $ and for firewood) – People need to clear forests to make farmland to grow food

Since 1990, 13 million hectares of forest have disappeared every year – That’s like one football field every 2 seconds!!! This is slowing down as industrialized countries use SYLVICULTURE and PLANT TREES.

DEFORESTATION IS STILL A BIG PROBLEM in tropical regions, where there are more developing countries.

Reasons for Deforestation in Developing Countries 1.Need for more firewood 2.Exporting wood (selling it to other countries) 3.Bad forestry techniques (ruin forests) 4.Illegal exploitation (cutting down protected forests) 5.Urbanization (more people-> more cities-> more demand for food -> more farms = less forests)

Other causes of Deforestation: 1.Insects 2.Forest fires 3.Drought 4.Acid Rain

Consequences of Deforestation Loss of jobs in the forest industry CO2 in the air Soil erosion

Some Solutions to Deforestation 1.REFORESTATION: Plant more trees! 2.Plantations & Sylviculture: forests grown for wood

3. Nature reserves -> Protected forests 4. Pressure groups and protests. 5. Transgenic Trees: Genetically modified trees made for wood production.