World Distribution of forest reserves

Distribution of natural Resources

World Distribution of forest reserves

Forests cover 31 percent of the world’s land surface, just over 4 billion hectares. (One hectare = 2.47 acres.) This is down from the pre-industrial area of 5.9 billion hectares. According to data from the U.N. Food and agriculture Organization, deforestation was at its highest rate in the 1990s, when each year the world lost on Average 16 million hectares of forest—roughly the size of the state of Michigan. At the same time, forest area expanded in some places, either through planting or natural processes, bringing the global net loss of forest to 8.3 million hectares per year. In the first decade of this century, the rate of deforestation was slightly lower, but still, a disturbingly high 13 million hectares were destroyed annually. As forest expansion remained stable, the global net forest loss between 2000 and 2010 was 5.2 million hectares per year.

Global rates of deforestation do not capture the full damage done to the world’s forests. Forest degradation from selective logging, road construction, Climate change, and other means compromises the Health of remaining forests. Each year the world has less forested area, and the forests that remain are of lower quality. For example, replacing natural old-Growth forests with a Monoculture of an exotic species greatly reduces Biodiversity-2/”>Biodiversity.

The spread of planted forests has been accelerating, rising from an expansion of 3.7 million hectares annually in the 1990s to 4.9 million hectares annually the following decade. Planted forests now cover some 264 million hectares, comprising nearly 7 percent of total forest area. Plantations now have the potential to produce an estimated 1.2 billion cubic meters of industrial wood each year, about two thirds of current global wood production. Where forests have already been cleared, plantations can alleviate the pressure on standing forests.

Forests are primarily threatened by land clearing for agriculture and pasture and by harvesting wood for fuel or industrial uses. In Brazil—which has lost 55 million hectares since 1990, an area three fourths the size of Texas—land clearing for farms and ranches is the big driver. Home to the Amazon rainforest, Brazil contains 13 percent of the world’s forested area, second only to Russia’s 20 percent. Between 2000 and 2010, Brazil lost 2.6 million hectares of forest each year, more than any other country. Brazil is trying to reduce deforestation rates 80 percent from the 1996–2005 average by 2020 and has in fact seen a large drop in deforestation in recent years. But rising beef, corn, and soybean prices are likely to pressure the government to weaken its forest protection, further threatening the world’s largest rainforest.

Two other South American countries, Bolivia and Venezuela, have also felled large areas of trees, making South America the region with the largest forest loss between 2000 and 2010. The continent lost 40 million hectares of forest during that period.

Africa also suffers from extensive deforestation, having lost 34 million hectares from 2000 to 2010. Firewood harvesting and charcoal production are important drivers. Four sub-Saharan nations—Nigeria, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—each cleared more than 300,000 hectares per year.

In contrast to South America, Asia has changed its trajectory from net forest loss in the 1990s to net forest expansion in the following decade, with China leading the growth in planted forests. After disastrous flooding in 1998, China realized the tremendous flood control and Soil protection benefits of intact forests, leading it to ban logging in key river basins and to begin planting trees at a rapid rate.

China’s heavy planting can disguise the trends elsewhere in the region, however. As the world’s largest processor of wood products, China imports both legally and illegally logged timber, driving deforestation in other countries. Indonesia, where 82 percent of the land area was covered by lush forests in the 1960s, has been a prime target. Today less than half of that country is forested, with some 24 million hectares of forest lost between 1990 and 2010. The good news is that the deforestation rate of 1.9 million hectares per year in the 1990s fell to 500,000 hectares per year during the most recent decade.

Another large driver of deforestation in Indonesia is palm oil production; the country accounts for almost half of the global output of this product. Expansion of oil palm, which is largely planted on lands that have been logged or burned, threatens the remaining forests. To assess this risk and limit the country’s contribution to Global Warming from land use change, Indonesia instituted a two-year moratorium in May 2011 on new licenses to convert primary forests to oil palm or other uses. The temporary ban is meant to provide time for the government to devise a way to double palm oil production by 2020 from 2009 levels while protecting its forests. The effectiveness of this ban remains to be seen, considering the ambitiousness of the production goal and the government’s ongoing struggle to limit illegal logging.

Mexico is another country where the government is taking on deforestation. In the 1990s Mexico had the seventh highest rate of deforestation in the world. Recent efforts to curb deforestation and encourage plantations halved the rate of forest loss from 400,000 hectares of forest per year in the 1990s to 200,000 hectares per year in the 2000s. In Mexico and Central America combined, annual deforestation losses have shrunk from 700,000 hectares to 400,000 hectares.

Across the globe, Australia moved in the opposite direction, switching from a net forest gain in the 1990s to a net forest loss in the following decade. Australia’s persistent drought from 2002 to 2010 was double trouble for its forests: the drought restricted forest regrowth while simultaneously increasing fire risk. Wildfires, stoked by extended drought and high temperatures, burned millions of hectares of forest in Australia. Just one megafire on February 7, 2009, now known as “Black Saturday,” burned over 400,000 hectares—an area the size of the state of Rhode Island.

Wildfires, in Conjunction with insect outbreaks, have also altered Canada’s forests. Around the turn of the twenty-first century, these disturbances released large amounts of carbon to the Atmosphere, possibly transforming Canada’s boreal forests from a Carbon Sink, pulling carbon dioxide from the air and storing it, to a carbon source. Carbon dioxide traps heat within the earth’s atmosphere, so whether Canada’s 310 million hectares of forest—the third most of any country—is a carbon source or sink can have large implications for future Climate Change.

The United States added a net 7.7 million hectares of trees between 1990 and 2010, around 380,000 hectares per year. Although the United States has experienced impressive forest regeneration within its own borders, it still contributes to deforestation as an importer of forest products—some $20 billion worth in 2011. The case in Europe is similar, where 2011 imports of forest products totaled $110 billion. Led by Spain, Italy, France, Norway, and Sweden, this region added a net 16 million hectares of forested area from 1990 to 2010.,

Forest reserves are areas of land that are set aside for the protection of forests. They can be found in all parts of the world, and they play an important role in conserving biodiversity, protecting Water Resources, and mitigating climate change.

Forest reserves are typically established by governments or other organizations, and they may be managed by a variety of different entities. Some forest reserves are open to the public for recreation, while others are closed to all but authorized personnel.

The size of forest reserves can vary greatly, from small areas of just a few hectares to large tracts of land that cover thousands of square kilometers. The type of forest reserve can also vary, depending on the goals of the reserve and the characteristics of the land. Some forest reserves are designated for the protection of specific species of Plants or animals, while others are designed to protect entire Ecosystems.

Forest reserves provide a number of benefits, including:

Conserving biodiversity: Forest reserves provide habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals, including many species that are threatened or endangered.
Protecting water resources: Forests help to regulate water flow and prevent flooding. They also filter water and help to improve water quality.
Mitigating climate change: Forests absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change.

However, forest reserves also face a number of challenges, including:

Deforestation: Forests are being cleared at an alarming rate, both for agricultural purposes and for the extraction of timber and other resources.
Illegal logging: Illegal logging is a major threat to forests around the world. It is estimated that up to 15% of all timber harvested globally is obtained through illegal means.
Fire: Forest fires are a natural phenomenon, but they can also be caused by human activity. Forest fires can destroy large areas of forest and release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Climate change: Climate change is already having a significant impact on forests around the world. Changes in temperature and Precipitation patterns are causing forests to shift their ranges, and some forests are being lost altogether.

Despite the challenges they face, forest reserves play an important role in protecting the Environment and providing a variety of benefits to people and wildlife. It is important to continue to support the conservation of forest reserves and to work to address the threats they face.

The future of forest reserves looks uncertain. The continued loss of forests due to deforestation, illegal logging, and climate change is a major threat to their existence. However, there are also a number of positive developments that could help to ensure the future of forest reserves. These include the increasing awareness of the importance of forests, the growing demand for sustainable forest management, and the development of new technologies that can help to protect forests.

The future of forest reserves will depend on the actions of governments, businesses, and individuals. If we all work together, we can ensure that forest reserves continue to provide the many benefits that they offer.

What are the different types of forests?

There are three main types of forests: tropical, temperate, and boreal. Tropical forests are found near the equator and are characterized by their warm, humid climate. Temperate forests are found in the middle latitudes and have a more moderate climate. Boreal forests, also known as taiga, are found in the far north and have a cold, snowy climate.

What are the benefits of forests?

Forests provide many benefits, including:

Oxygen: Forests produce oxygen, which we need to breathe.
Water: Forests help to regulate the water cycle and prevent flooding.
Soil: Forests help to prevent soil erosion and landslides.
Wildlife: Forests provide habitat for many different types of wildlife.
Recreation: Forests provide a place for people to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and fishing.

What are the threats to forests?

Forests are threatened by a number of factors, including:

Deforestation: Deforestation is the clearing of forests for other uses, such as agriculture or development.
Climate change: Climate change is causing forests to change in ways that are harmful to the trees and the animals that live in them.
Fire: Forest fires can destroy large areas of forest.
Pests and diseases: Pests and diseases can kill trees and make forests more susceptible to other threats.

What can we do to protect forests?

There are many things we can do to protect forests, including:

Reduce our consumption of products that come from forests, such as paper and wood products.
Support organizations that are working to protect forests.
Plant trees.
Recycle paper and wood products.
Choose products that are made from recycled materials.
Educate others about the importance of forests.

What is the future of forests?

The future of forests depends on the actions that we take to protect them. If we continue to deforest at the current rate, forests will disappear at an alarming rate. This will have a devastating impact on the environment and on the people who depend on forests for their livelihoods. However, if we take action to protect forests, we can ensure that they continue to provide us with the many benefits that they offer.

Which of the following is not a type of forest?
(A) Tropical rainforest
(B) Temperate rainforest
(C) Boreal forest
(D) Desert forest
The largest forest in the world is the:
(A) Amazon rainforest
(B) Congo rainforest
(C) Siberian taiga
(D) Canadian boreal forest
Forests cover about what Percentage of the Earth’s land surface?
(A) 30%
(B) 20%
(C) 10%
(D) 5%
Forests play an important role in the Earth’s climate by:
(A) absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
(B) releasing oxygen into the atmosphere
(C) providing habitat for wildlife
(D) all of the above
Deforestation is the clearing of forests for other uses, such as agriculture or development. What are some of the negative effects of deforestation?
(A) Loss of biodiversity
(B) Soil erosion
(C) Climate change
(D) all of the above
What are some of the ways to prevent deforestation?
(A) Plant trees
(B) Reduce demand for products that come from deforested areas
(C) Support sustainable Forestry practices
(D) all of the above
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
(A) An international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
(B) An international agreement to protect forests
(C) An international agreement to promote Sustainable Development
(D) An international agreement to reduce POVERTY
What is the Paris Agreement?
(A) An international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
(B) An international agreement to protect forests
(C) An international agreement to promote sustainable development
(D) An international agreement to reduce poverty
What is the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
(A) A set of 17 goals adopted by the United Nations to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all
(B) A set of 17 goals adopted by the United States to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all
(C) A set of 17 goals adopted by the European Union to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all
(D) A set of 17 goals adopted by the G20 to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all
What is the role of forests in achieving the SDGs?
(A) Forests play an important role in achieving many of the SDGs, including Goal 13 (Climate action), Goal 15 (Life on land), and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the goals).
(B) Forests play an important role in achieving some of the SDGs, including Goal 13 (Climate action) and Goal 15 (Life on land).
(C) Forests play an important role in achieving a few of the SDGs, including Goal 13 (Climate action) and Goal 15 (Life on land).
(D) Forests do not play an important role in achieving the SDGs.