Why should old-growth forests be protected?

Why should old-growth forests be protected?

By protecting old-growth forests, emissions are reduced and carbon is kept safely stored away. Old growth forests also tend to be the most resilient because of their structural diversity. This means they will cope better than younger forests as climate change worsens.

Why do people want to cut down old-growth forests?

Old-growth forests have accumulated huge amounts of carbon per hectares and clearcutting them releases massive amounts of carbon back into the atmosphere. Protecting old-growth means reducing emissions quickly and keeping the carbon where it belongs.

Are old-growth forests good for the environment?

Old growth forests play essential roles in wildlife habitat, species diversity, hydrological regimes, nutrient cycles, carbon storage, and numerous other ecological processes.

What are some reasons that preserving an old growth forest is good for biodiversity?

Old-Growth Forests Often Have Incredible Biodiversity These include functions like protecting nearby water systems, encouraging the formation of healthy soil, and breaking down ambient air pollution. Untouched old-growth forests exhibit a number of important properties that younger, disturbed forests may not.

How can we help the old-growth forest?

For example, you could:

1. Host a community rally outside your local MLA’s office.
2. Send your MLA artwork, photos, videos and stories about what forests mean to you.
3. Hang banners in your community and around BC government offices calling for old-growth protection.
4. Host a letter writing or sign painting party.

What is old-growth used for?

Wood from old-growth trees is often desired for high-end and specialty products such as fine furniture, musical instruments, specialty finishing products and shake and shingle manufacturing.

What do they use old growth trees for?

Wood from old growth trees is often desired for high-end and specialty products such as fine furniture, musical instruments, specialty finishing products and shake and shingle manufacturing.

Why do we need to farm trees and manage our forests?

The role of forestry Trees are essential to life on earth, performing an amazing, life-sustaining role through their ability to combine sunlight, water, nutrients and carbon dioxide to produce woody biomass and release oxygen that supports all life.

What is an old-growth forest and why are these forests at risk?

Old growth forests were often given harvesting priority because they had the most commercially valuable timber, they were considered to be at greater risk of deterioration through root rot or insect infestation, and they occupied land that could be used for more productive second-growth stands.

Why is it important to protect old growth forests?

Natural carbon sinks are expected to play an important role in this mission, and with old-growth forests known to be hugely effective in this role, protecting them will be of monumental importance. Studying at a top school for environmental science can help you develop the skills and knowledge to contribute to this work.

What kind of trees are in old growth forests?

Old-growth forests are diverse: from wet rainforests with towering, mossy Sitka spruce trees and gnarly red cedars with trunks wider than a car’s length; to dry forests with contorted Garry oak and arbutus trees and massive Douglas-firs; to high elevation, slow-growing yellow cedars and mountain hemlocks covered in beard lichens.

What are the benefits of a healthy forest?

Areas with good biodiversity can produce a number of important benefits for their regions and, by extension, the people who live nearby. These include functions like protecting nearby water systems, encouraging the formation of healthy soil, and breaking down ambient air pollution.

How are people helping to save the world’s forests?

“Local people have strong incentive to preserve the forests they depend on as the basis of traditional subsistence uses including as a source of food, shelter, and medicine,” the authors write. “There are many examples of successful natural ecosystem protection at all scales by local communities.”