WEEK 4: MEANING OF FOREST AND FORESTRY, TYPES OF FOREST, FOREST TERMS

WEEK 4

TOPIC:           MEANING OF FOREST AND FORESTRY, TYPES OF FOREST, FOREST TERMS:

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: By the end of the lesson, the student should be able to:  

1.     Define forest and forestry.

2.     List two types of forest.

3.     Enumerate at least four terms used in forest management.

4.     Explain some terms used in forest management.

MEANING OF FOREST AND FORESTRY:

A forest is a large area of land covered with trees and bushes. It can also be defined as an area of land with high density of trees or a large expense of land covered with trees and a home for wild animals. All forests are either natural or artificial. The natural forest exists on their own while the artificial are established and managed by man.

 Whereas,

Forestry: Is the art of planting, tending, managing and utilization of forest products. The person in charge of forest reserve area is known as forest guard.

                                                                 TYPES OF FOREST:

1. Evergreen forest: This occurs around the flood plains of large river. The trees produces green leaves which do not shed leaves during the dry season.

2. Deciduous forest: Is derived from savanna. These are forest that shed their leaves during the dry season.

Trees found in the forest includes: Iroko, Mohagany, Obeche, Sapele, walnut, Afara etc. Animals found in the forest includes: monkeys, squirrels, insects, birds, elephant, lion, tiger, leopard, hyena, snakes, antelope, giraffe etc.

SOME TERMS USED IN FOREST MANAGEMENT:

There are various practices or terms used in forest management. They include:

1. Selective exploitation: Is the cutting of matured trees leaving the young ones to continue growing to avoid destructive effects of both wind and water erosion.

2. Afforestation: Is the establishment of new forest in area where there has never been any. This serves as a wind breaks and encourages wild fauna and flora (animal and plants).It reduces erosion.

3. Deforestation: Is the cutting down of all the forest trees, both matured and immature ones. This can lead to soil erosion, scarcity of fruits products and ecological balance.

4. Regeneration: This refers to the growth of felled stock or stump of the felled parent stock. Regeneration leads to profuse branching and rejuvenation of an existing forest.

5. Taungya system: Is the system in which crop farming (food and forage crops) is integrated with forestry (forest trees) on the same piece of land. This system is adapted at the early stage of the forest trees in the areas of land scarcity.

6. Forest regulation: These are rules promulgated by government and aimed at the establishment and management of forest. Provision of forest regulations include:

* Indiscriminate felling of trees is prohibited; only licensed timber dealers have the same mandate to cut only mature trees.

* Hunting of wild animals or poaching (illegal hunting) is prohibited.

* The prohibition of bush burning and creation of fire around the forest.

7. Reforestation: Is the organized planting of trees in areas which have lost their forest characteristics as a result of burning, farming and deforestation.

8. Forest reserve: Is a piece of land set aside for preservation of economic trees and animals.

               REASONS FOR FOREST RESERVE:

1. Population pressure.

2. To increase soil fertility.

3. Land under dispute.

4. Prevent natural hazards like erosion and desert encroachment.

Evaluation Questions: Answer the following questions:

1. Define forest and forestry.

2. List two types of forest.

3. Enumerate at least four terms used in forest management.

4. Explain some terms used in forest management.