Characteristics of Forests, Types of Forests - Essay Example

Forestry Forestry is considered as a very vital aspect that has great impact on the environment. Forestry is defined as the management of forests. Forestry is normally undertaken with the aim of harvesting timber and also for purposes of conservation. Forestry is also concerned with the protection of the wildlife in that area and the water catchment areas. Due to the numerous issues that affect forestry the government and the several stakeholders have come up with rules and regulations to ensure that forests are properly managed and any act that negatively affects the forest is punishable by law (Green). The factors that affect forestry and the significance of forests will be discussed in this paper. This paper will also tackle the different types of forests. Characteristics of Forests Forests share several general characteristics as discussed below. Forests are mostly dominated by trees amongst other plants. Some of the plants are tall and others are short. Most of the plants have features that help them adapt to the several conditions that are presented in the different types of forests (Green). Forests have sufficient amount of water. A majority of the forests receive sufficient amounts of rain that help in the growth of the plants and support the animals that live in the forests (Green). The rain water forms ponds and streams. Forests offer great biodiversity due to the fact that it acts as a habitat to many habitants. The forest has several foods and shelters that support the habitants that reside in the various forests (Green).Forest canopy is a characteristic that is found in different forests (Green). The canopy differs in the different types of forests due to the fact that the nutrients found in forests differ. Types of Forests There are several types of forests that can be classified into tropical forests, plantation forests, temperate forests, coniferous forests, boreal forests and montane forests (Green). Tropical Forests Tropical forests are densely populated and are found near the equator. In this type of forests winter is not present and the temperatures are normally between 68 and 77 degrees. These forests receive mostly receive 100 inches of rain in a year. The soils found in the tropical forests are very poor due to the high levels of rain and warm temperature. The plants that grow in these types of forests are normally broad-leafed and the trees are normally very tall. Due to the huge density of the trees the sun doesn’t reach the lower levels of the forest. This forces the animals that live in these forests to adapt to living in the trees (Green). Temperate Forests These forests are normally found in eastern North America, northeastern Asia, parts of Russia, China, Japan, Western Europe and Eastern Europe. The trees that are found in these forests are normally deciduous and coniferous evergreen trees. The trees are hardwood and have broad leaves. The trees shed many leaves annually. The temperate forests experience both rain and winter. The rain that is received in the forests ranges between 30 and 60 inches. The soil in these forests is very fertile. The plants that are mostly found in these forests include mosses, ferns, wildflowers, shrubs, ferns, pines and fir. The animals that live in the temperate forests have to be adapted to the winter seasons (Green). Coniferous Forests Coniferous forests are normally found in the cold and windy regions that are located near the poles. These areas have mild winters and heavy rainfall. The coniferous forests are found in pacific northwestern United States, Canada, southwestern South America, southern Japan, New Zealand and parts of northwestern Europe. The rains experienced in these forests range between 50 and 200 inches. The soils found in this region are very fertile. The trees that are found in these forests grow very tall due to the high levels of rain and the moderate temperatures. The types of trees that are found in this region include cedar, cypress, pine, spruce, maple, mosses and fern (Green). Montane Forests Montane forests receive their precipitation from mist in the lowlands. The trees found in these forests are normally short thus a canopy that is less developed. The numbers of small animals in the montane forest are more as compared to the large-bodied animals. This is due to the minimal number of fruiting tree (Green). Boreal Forests Boreal forests are found in Canada, northern Asia, Siberia and Scandinavia. These forests experience long winters and short summers. The precipitation that is received in these forests is normally between 15 and 40 inches per year. The soil in these forests is very thin due to the cold temperatures. The trees that are found here are evergreen. The animals that are found in these types of forests have adapted to cold winters and they have thick furs (Green). Plantation Forests These forests have been in the recent past adopted by many regions across the globe. These forest produce timber that is more sustainable as compared to natural forests. Plantations forests are mostly used for industrial purposes (Green). Monsoon Forests Monsoon forests are seasonal rainforests that are mostly found in northern Australia, eastern Brazil, Asia, West Africa and east Africa. These forests are characterized by both dry and wet seasons. The trees that are found in these forests are very short. These forests are quickly diminishing due to human activities (Green). Mangrove Forests Mangrove forests are found in saline habitats along river deltas and coastal regions. The canopy in these forests is broken. The trees in these forests are evergreen. The shrubs found in these forests have breathing roots that help them to survive in the saline area. The swampy mangrove is home to several amphibians (Green). The mangrove forests protect the coastal regions against erosion and storm damage. Significance of Forests Forests play a significant role to both the society and the economy. The several benefits of forests are discussed below. Forests maintain the ecological system by regulating rainfall and temperature. Forests also control soil erosion and floods. Forests act as home to several animals and plants. The animals get their food in the forest and they also have to adapt to the several conditions of the forests in order to survive. Forests are a source of several products like timber, fuel, honey, medicines among others (Green). Forests also act as religious grounds for several communities. Factors Affecting Forestry There are several factors that affect forests across the globe and some of the issues are discussed below. Human population has been on the rise. The population pressure has forced individuals to cut down trees to create room for their residence. The creation of space by humans for their residence thus affects forestry. Conversion of forestry for agricultural purposes also diminishes forests. Cutting of trees for use in charcoal or for use as fuel is also a great factor that affects the forests negatively (Green). Forests have proved to be very vital socially and economically. However human activities have played a role in destruction of forests. The concerned stakeholders should therefore establish several policies that protect the forests Reference Green, Emily K.. Forests. Minneapolis, MN: Bellwether Media, 2007. Print. Read More