ENVIRON 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Certified Wood, Forest Management, Afforestation
Document Summary
Environ 201 lecture 20 forests and protected areas. How many percent of the world"s land surface is covered by forests: 30, michigan over 50% Forest: any ecosystem with a high density of trees. What determines forest types: temperature, precipitation, soil, topography. Forests support high biodiversity: they are structurally complex with many niches, they provide food and shelter for multitudes of species, old-growth primary forests diversity exceeds that of young forests. Forests provide ecosystem services: provide timber, food, and other resources, stabilize soil and prevent erosion, slow runoff, prevent flooding, purify water, store carbon, release oxygen, influence weather and moderate climate, other cultural, aesthetic, health, and recreational values. Forests and climate change: recap: increased carbon in atmosphere -> climate change, forests store ~45% of terrestrial carbon, forests can take in more carbon from the atmosphere and store it in their biomass. Reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (redd) Developing countries are rewarded financially for any emissions reductions through avoided deforestation.
