Topic 2.2: Maintenance of Forest Health

 

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Content

Topic Introduction

Forests are entire ecosystems and, as such, they comprise a wide diversity of species. From the perspective of a manager seeking an economic return from a forest, some of these species are more desirable than others. Trees provide timber, with some being more valuable than others. They may also provide a range of other products, including flowers, fruit and bark. In a few cases, other parts of the tree may be used, such as the traditional use of cedar roots for weaving by Aboriginal people of western North America, or the use of foliage to provide essential oils. Other species in the forest may also provide products, including bamboo, rattan, and a variety of trees, shrubs and herbs. Many fungi, part of the decomposer cycle within the forest, may provide edible fruiting bodies.

Many agents can disrupt the productive functions of a forest, some natural and some anthropogenic. In this module, we will look at these agents, and how they can be managed. At all times, it is important to remember that a healthy, natural forest will always contain dead plant materials. Indeed such materials are an essential part of the ecosystem, and also represent an important carbon store (a topic discussed in the next module). In plantation forests, there is much more of a focus on keeping all productive trees healthy, and diseased trees may be removed fairly quickly in order to maintain the overall health of the stand.

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