Canada is taking some serious steps to manage its forests and its future. The government has launched a call for proposals under IFIT. Forestry is nothing but tree planting. The government of Canada’s priority is the development of innovative new products for its forest sector.

Forest management to protect the country’s publicly owned forests.

According to the forest management plan, every forest company lawfully must draw up and get approved by the government before proceeding with the harvesting on public lands. The plan covers several decades. It outlines a strategy and commitment to protecting the forest in the area under management. Along with assessing the current conditions of the forest, it also details the forest values in the area. It also describes the management objectives and harvesting and regeneration plans to be carried out to achieve those objectives.

Plan approval is crucial.

Since most of the forestry is done by private forestry companies in publicly owned forests, there are some guidelines and agreements that must be stringently adhered. The companies are to operate under a license issued by the territorial government, and any harvesting must be kicked off only after the approval of the government. The approval is never automatic with the issuance of the license.

Forest management planning support and ensure a sustainable forestry

Varying by jurisdiction, the development of management plans involves inputs from the government agencies, industry, the public, and the stakeholders. Also, it draws more details to specific areas and extends over a period of years.

These practices ensure that the plans are followed

The government oversight continues even after a forest management plan. They closely monitor the private forest companies, track the timber removed, review the forest plans every 5 or 10 years, and audit the compliance of the companies.

Public participation is vital.

It ensures that the forestry planning process is transparent and involves Canadians in the decision-making. It includes community representatives, industry and environmental groups, and aboriginal people. The plans, too, are made available for public view and comment.

In conclusion

The research for forest management projects includes the study of wildlife habitat, forest growth, and yield and pest management. Many factors have directly enhanced forestry. The inventory advances have significantly increased the accuracy and the quality of the forest inventories and help the forest managers reduce the size of are harvested.

It helps determine the northern limit of sustainable-scale harvesting. It collaborates with FPInnovations to develop innovative partial cutting approaching for profitable and sustainable harvesting and regenerating of forests.

The forest ecology comprises a community of unique flora and fauna. It provided a natural habitat to millions of species of plants and animals. Depending upon the different climatic conditions, they can be called tropical rainforest, temperate, etc.

Types of forest ecosystem

The forest ecology is classified into three major types- tropical, temperate, and boreal.

The ecosystem of the tropical forest

Also known as tropical rainforest, it receives almost 100 inches of rain per year. Heavy rainfall has led to poor soil quality here due to the rains leaching the soil nutrients. The dense canopy makes it touch for the sunlight to reach the forest floor. It is home to a massive variety of birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, etc.

There are again divided into subcategories called-

Evergreen forest

This forest receives rainfall all year, without pause.

Seasonal forest

This forest has a short dry season and hosts an evergreen flora.

Dry forest

They have a long period of dry spells.

Montane

It receives precipitation in the form of fog, hence the name of cloud forests.

Tropical and subtropical coniferous forest

This variety has adapted to the dry and hot climatic conditions.

Temperate forest ecosystem

Found in North America, Eurasia, Japan, etc., these forests receive close to 30-60 inches of rainfall per year. This area experiences all four seasons with temperature variations. The rich soil allows a variety of vegetation to flourish. The forest inhabits many squirrels, deer, coyotes, raccoons, owls, hawks, etc.

It is further divided into temperate deciduous forest and temperate coniferous forest.

Temperate deciduous forest

These forests experience all the seasons, including the snowfall during the winter. The fertile soil allows a variety of vegetation to grow like ferns, wildflowers, oak, bitch, maple, etc.

Temperate coniferous forest

These forests are found in the coastal regions and receive rainfall of 50-200 inches per year roughly. It is mostly covered in a dense layer of decomposed matter. Deer, black bear, elk, marmor, spotted, etc., are typically found here.

Boreal Forest ecosystem

It is also known as Taiga forests found in Nothern Asia, Siberia, Canada, and Scandinavia. It experiences short summers and long winters. The trees found are mostly the evergreen variety with a dense canopy.

Savanna forest ecosystem

It is found in Africa, Australia, and South America. It is quite vulnerable to forest fires but also has the ability to re-grow. The landscapes are covered with lush greens, bushes, and feeble trees.

In conclusion

The ecosystem depends upon the seasonal variation of the country. A forest ecosystem may be a mix of two, which is why the trees always remain green.  They attract birds of all species to shelter, providing favorable conditions.

The timberland companies have learned from the mistakes in the previous practices and are seeking and applying new ways to engage in sustainable forestry practices.

Here are the benefits of forestry.

Bringing back the forests

Forests were initially abandoned. Now, over 1.7 billion seedlings are planted every year, which equates to six seedlings planted for every tree harvested.

Better water quality

Watersheds are areas where drinking water is collected from riparian zones, which is the land bordering lakes, streams, and rivers. The trees, soil and bacteria help the water be clean and safe to drink.

Curbs air pollution

One fully grown tree absorbs roughly 13 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. This implies that a forest removes 1.47 tons of carbon dioxide.

Lesser wildfires

The incidence of wildfires has been reduced by 90% through education, prevention, and control.

Wildlife

Forestry applies some techniques that benefit wildlife. Harvesting and thinning stimulate growth for food sources to help the habitat flourish.

Benefits the urban environment

Forests reduce energy consumption, improve air quality and reduce stormwater runoffs.

Good for soil fertility

The growth of the food resources depends upon the soil. Foresters foster techniques to increase the fertility of the earth for better growth activities.

Energy-efficient products

Timber is a renewable source of energy because the tree can be planted again. Steels and the likes can be reused and recycles but not replaces. Recycling requires lesser energy.

Human lives depend on the forests. They also make a wonderful playground and an outdoor retreat. The diverse array of plants and animals that forest houses makes preserving them further necessary. These days, we are all prone to air pollution. But the forest filters the hair and performs damage control for us. They keep the water clean and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, which is a major contributor to climate change.

Social benefits

Wilderness areas like forested parks and reserves are great for camping and hiking as it lets the tourists get a breather from the hubbub of the city life. Many set out to seek tranquility in the forest, and also, being exposed to such a green environment has a lot of physical and mental benefits. It allows people to feel one with nature.

Economic benefits

Forestry employs an array of jobs related to forests and wood products. The timber harvested every year retains plenty of jobs in the “forest sector.” It also provides livelihood to the rural indigenous communities, which are nearly a third of the economic base. We can only look to our forests to purify the air we breathe and prevent climate change. In no way should we allow them to disappear.