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| Forests serve as sources of timber and as habitats for many animals and plants. They also provide recreational areas for campers, hikers, and hunters. In addition, forests are important as watersheds. They absorb large amounts of rain water, preventing the rapid runoff of water that causes erosion and flooding. Many forests are owned by national governments. In the United States, the U.S. Forest Service manages these national forests under the principle of multiple use, which means they provide several benefits at once. For example, the Forest Service manages woodlands to furnish timber, shelter wildlife, provide recreational space, and conserve water. |
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Timber production, however, may conflict with the need to conserve wildlife, water, and other resources. Also, the use of prescribed burning in forests, often done to maintain native species that are adapted to frequent fires, can conflict with concern over smoke and the danger of fire in adjacent areas.
The conservation of forests used to produce timber depends on replacing trees that are cut down so that the forest has a sustained yield. Sustained yield is an approximate balance between the annual harvest and the annual growth of wood.
For centuries, people have cut down forests to clear land for farms and cities. Today, forest destruction in the United States and other industrialized countries has slowed, though many forest-dwelling species remain threatened. In many other countries, however, especially those in tropical areas, forest destruction continues at a rapid pace. The reduction of tropical rain forests has put at risk the survival of the richest and most diverse ecosystems in the world. Next >>> |
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