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    Ecosystem Management - Forests

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    Che Hinds
    This document summarizes the importance of forests, how global forest cover has changed over time, countries with the most forest area and sustainably managed forest, threats to forests, and principles of sustainable forest management. Specifically, it notes that forests store carbon, produce oxygen, prevent erosion, and support biodiversity. It reports that global forest cover has declined from 32% of land originally to 31% currently. It identifies Russia, Brazil, Canada and the US as having the most forest area, and Liechtenstein, Croatia, and Poland as having the highest percentages of sustainably certified forest. The document lists threats as logging, climate change, land conversion, and fires/pests, and principles of sustainable forest management including compliance with

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    Ecosystem Management - Forests

    Uploaded by

    Che Hinds
    55 views1 page
    This document summarizes the importance of forests, how global forest cover has changed over time, countries with the most forest area and sustainably managed forest, threats to forests, and principles of sustainable forest management. Specifically, it notes that forests store carbon, produce oxygen, prevent erosion, and support biodiversity. It reports that global forest cover has declined from 32% of land originally to 31% currently. It identifies Russia, Brazil, Canada and the US as having the most forest area, and Liechtenstein, Croatia, and Poland as having the highest percentages of sustainably certified forest. The document lists threats as logging, climate change, land conversion, and fires/pests, and principles of sustainable forest management including compliance with

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    This document summarizes the importance of forests, how global forest cover has changed over time, countries with the most forest area and sustainably managed forest, threats to forests, and principles of sustainable forest management. Specifically, it notes that forests store carbon, produce oxygen, prevent erosion, and support biodiversity. It reports that global forest cover has declined from 32% of land originally to 31% currently. It identifies Russia, Brazil, Canada and the US as having the most forest area, and Liechtenstein, Croatia, and Poland as having the highest percentages of sustainably certified forest. The document lists threats as logging, climate change, land conversion, and fires/pests, and principles of sustainable forest management including compliance with

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    55 views1 page

    Ecosystem Management - Forests

    Uploaded by

    Che Hinds
    This document summarizes the importance of forests, how global forest cover has changed over time, countries with the most forest area and sustainably managed forest, threats to forests, and principles of sustainable forest management. Specifically, it notes that forests store carbon, produce oxygen, prevent erosion, and support biodiversity. It reports that global forest cover has declined from 32% of land originally to 31% currently. It identifies Russia, Brazil, Canada and the US as having the most forest area, and Liechtenstein, Croatia, and Poland as having the highest percentages of sustainably certified forest. The document lists threats as logging, climate change, land conversion, and fires/pests, and principles of sustainable forest management including compliance with

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    of 1

    Bas

    FA C T S
    ic
    FORESTS
    ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT www.unep.org

    Why preserve forests and plant trees?


    Carbon Storage and Oxygen - CO2 Cycle Prevent Land Degradation Preserve Habitats and Sustain
    Ecosystem Services
    Sunlight Forests prevent the loss Many animal species
    Water of fertile topsoil and and human
    helps retain moisture. communities
    CO2
    Oxygen Tree roots hold soil depend on
    together and prevent forests for
    Carbon

    Water
    erosion. survival.

    other services: Food • Fuel • Air purification • Recreation • Spirituality • Protection of Watersheds • Conservation of Gene-Pools • Plant Pollination

    How has global forest cover changed over time?

    Current Forest
    Cover (2000)
    Forest is defined as having greater
    than 30% tree cover, except for
    sparse trees and parklands, where
    forest cover must be between 10
    and 30%.

    Original Forest Cover


    Estimated forest cover between the

    32%
    end of the last glacial period and
    the rise of humans (about 10 000
    years ago). Currently of land on earth is covered by forest
    Source: UNEP GEO Data Portal, compiled from UNEP-WCMC Source: UNEP GEO Data Portal, compiled from FAO/FRA, 2005

    Which countries have the greatest area of What are some of the threats to forests?
    sustainably-managed forest? Legal and Illegal Logging • Conflicts • Natural Hazards
    Countries with the highest % of FSC*-certified forests (2005)
    0% 100%
    Climate Change • Pollution • Conversion to Agricultural
    Liechtenstein 7 thousand hectares total forest area Land • Urban Development • Fire • Diseases & Insects
    Croatia 2 135
    Poland 9 192 How are forests managed sustainably?
    Ireland 669 Some basic principles of FSC sustainable forestry certification:
    Latvia 2 941 Comply with all international laws.
    UK 2 846 Respect the rights of indigenous peoples.
    Lithuania 2 099 Respect workers’ rights and support local communities.
    Estonia 2 284 Share benefits from use of the forest.
    Reduce the environmental impact of logging, and maintain
    the ecological functions of the forest.
    Countries with the most forest area (2005)
    Regularly assess the condition of the forest and impacts of
    Million Hectares % FSC
    of Forest Accredited
    environmental and social management plans.
    Russian Federation 809 0.6 Wood cannot be a renewable resource unless forests
    Brazil 478 0.7 are managed sustainably.
    Canada 310 2.5
    United States of America 303 2.5 Look for an eco-label on products to make sure you are purchasing wood
    China 197 0.2 and paper products from sustainably managed forests. For example, the
    (*) Forest Stewardship Council is a major, accredited certification body.
    Australia 164 0.3
    Source: UNEP GEO Data Portal, compiled from FSC Produced by UNEP/DEWA/GRID-Europe, July 2009

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