Page 13 - 4. Pre-Course Reading-Training on Forestry Audit 2019

Chapter 1: Forests

Table 1.3
Planted forests in the continuum of forest characteristics

NATURALLY REGENERATED FORESTS PLANTED FORESTS
SEMI-NATURAL PLANTATIONS TREES OUTSIDE
MODIFIED FORESTS
PRIMARY
NATURAL ASSISTED NATURAL PLANTED PRODUCTIVE PROTECTIVE
REGENERATION COMPONENT
Forest native species, Forest of naturally Silvicultural practi- Forest of native Forest of introduced Forest of introduced Stands smaller than
where there no clearly regenerated native ces by intensive species, established and/or native and/or native 0,5 ha; tree cover in
visible indications species where there management: through planting or species established species, established agricultural land (agro
of human activities are clearly visible 1. weeding, seeding, intensively through planting or through planting or forestry systems, home
and the ecological indications of 2. fertilizing, managed. seeding mainly for seeding mainly for gardens, orchards);
processes are not human activities. 3. thinning, production of wood provision of services. trees in urban environ-
significantly disturbed. 4. selective logging or non-wood goods. ments; and scattered
along roads and in
landscapes

Source: FAO Forestry Paper: Global Forest Resources Assessment (2005)
13

The first three classes comprise native forest tree species increase. This suggests that if governments do not carry out
only, with the possible exception of small areas of natural sustainable forest management, there will be an increasing
regeneration of introduced or naturalized species in the semi- trend towards planted forests.
natural class. Although the origin of primary and modified
natural forests is natural regeneration, semi-natural forests are
established through assisted natural regeneration, planting 1.3 TYPES OF FOREST
or seeding, and all forest plantations are established through
planting or seeding.
FAO (2001) divides the world’s forest into the following broad
ecological zones based on rainfall patterns, temperature, and
According to FAO (2005), the world’s forest cover is dominated humidity: tropical, subtropical, temperate, and boreal. These
(55%) by naturally regenerated forest. However, an analysis of zones correspond largely to latitudes (although there may
global forest trends in forest characteristics show that between well be a wide range of forest types in any one continent or
1990 and 2005, naturally regenerated forests tended to country). The FAO’s seven forest types are shown in the
decrease, whereas semi-natural and planted forests tended to following table. 5
Table 1.4
Types of Forests

MOUNTAIN FORESTS Mountains and highlands are often covered with unique forest vegetations that are different in structure and species composition
from surrounding lowland vegetation. The high mountains in the tropics (for example, the Andes and Himalayas), have a range of
forest types determined by altitude and exposure. Their upper limit is typically about 3,000 meters in dry regions, such as the Near
East. Natural forests are often confined to the mountains. Overall, mountain forests sustain a great diversity of habitats and are
essential for watershed protection and soil conservation.

TROPICAL RAIN Tropical rain forests are found mainly where the climate is hot and humid throughout the year: in the Amazon basin of South America,
FORESTS the Congo basin of Central Africa, and parts of Southeast Asia. They constitute the world’s most diverse terrestrial ecosystem, with
many rare, endemic, and endangered plants and animal species. The vegetation is rich, with tall, closely set trees that often form a
continuous multilayered canopy and emergent trees reaching a height of 50 to 60 meters. Tropical rain forests contain many resources
vital for local subsistence and commercial activities, such as timber, rattan, fruits, nuts, medicinal plants, and rubber. These forests
are also home to a large number of indigenous peoples.
BOREAL CONIFEROUS Boreal coniferous forests are found mainly at high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, where the climate is cold. These forests
FORESTS are the world’s major source of commercial softwood. Spruce and fir dominate the forests of North America, northern Europe, and
western Siberia, while larch is common in the forests of central and eastern Siberia. The forest canopy cover is often low, and there
is commonly an understorey of shrubs, herbaceous vegetation, mosses, or lichens. The Siberian taiga constitutes the earth’s largest
continuous forest. In this type of forest, biological diversity is low but the level of endemism is high. Wetlands in these areas fulfill
important ecological functions, for example, as breeding habitat for many species of waterfowl and shorebirds.
TEMPERATE BROADLEAF The temperate broadleaf deciduous forest is the natural vegetation of eastern North America, western Europe, eastern Asia, and parts
DECIDUOUS FORESTS of Patagonia. This forest type is associated with a humid climate and includes species like oak, beech, birch, hickory, walnut, maple,
elm, and ash. Forests vary in structure and composition according to local climate, soils, altitude, and frequency of fires. Many of the
hardwood species are highly valued for their wood qualities and most remaining forests are intensively managed. Temperate broadleaf
forests are also extensively used for recreation, as many of them are located near densely populated industrialized regions.

5 State of The world’s Forests 2001