What is this map showing?
What are the trends in global
forest production?
1. What are the advantages of plantations over
wild harvesting of forest products?
2. What are the differences in consumption of
forest products in different societies?
3. What are the sources of UK timber and timber
products?
What are the advantages of plantations
over wild harvesting of forest products?
For timber and paper, tress are often grown in plantations
TASK
Why do harvest from
wild communities
produce lower yields
than from plantations?
Outline 3 reasons
Natural woodland
Plantation
Irregular shape & tree density varies
Edges are straight lines, even, high tree density
Multi-species
Monoculture
Trees of all ages
Trees all same age
Variable light levels
Low light levels once canopy has closed
Contains open areas
No open areas
Native species
May consist entirely of exotic species
Accessible
Inaccessible
High wildlife value
Low wildlife value
Answers
• fewer productive plants
• more competitors
• no genetic selection
Plantations have a simpler ecological structure than
natural forests. Explain the following 4 differences.
1. Species diversity
2. Age structure
3. Stratification
4. Interspecies relationships
Answers
Plantations have a simpler ecological structure than
natural forests. Explain the following 4 differences.
1. Species diversity- small range of species selected for
economic productivity
2. Age structure - large areas often planted at the same
time
3. Stratification - fewer vegetation layers due to low
species diversity and simple age structure
4. Interspecies relationships - Tree species are often
exotic and don't support indigenous wildlife
2. What are the differences in consumption of forest
products in different societies?
Wood and Paper Imports
TASK
What are the key
differences in forest
product consumption
between LEDCs and
MEDCs
Forest production
Consumption of forest products in MEDCs and LEDCs
MEDCs:
• import huge volumes of hardwood as
roundwood (tree stems) and then convert
them into high value products e.g. furniture
• They also import softwood for paper –
making
LEDCs:
• export roundwood and import more
expensive, finished products.
• But as LEDCs develop, they are improving
their capacity to manufacture and then
export high-value goods
• Huge volumes of wood are used as
fuelwood in LEDCs
Imports
The UK imports over 50 million tonnes of wood and wood
products annually
60
UK imports
50
Millions of m3
40
30
20
UK exports
10
0
1971
1976
1981
1986
1991
1996
2001
2006
Year
Research Q: Why are we importing at the same time as exporting?
Forest Cover
How does our forest cover compare with other countries?
Country
Finland
Sweden
Russian federation
Latvia
Estonia
Austria
Portugal
Italy
Germany
Switzerland
Norway
Greece
France
Spain
UK
Ireland
% of land forested
72
65
50
47
48
47
40
34
30
30
29
28
27
27
11
9
3. What are the sources of UK timber
and timber products?
TASK. Display the following data on UK timber
graphically.
Imported wood and wood products (85% of total consumption)
• 45% pulp and paper
• 40% sawn wood
• 15% wood panels
UK production (15% of total consumption) 95% softwood
• 40% for paper
Ideas
• 30% wood panels
Divided bars
• 25% sawn wood
5% hardwood
• 3% fuel
• 2% sawn wood