Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Final Project


Source: nrcan.gc.ca
 

The Boreal Forest, also known as the Taiga, is the largest terrestrial biome in the world. It covers about 11% of the Earth's land and can be seen almost exclusively in Canada, Russia and Scandinavia. As seen in the first picture, these forests are found near the Artic Circle, and are known for their cold and white winters. More specifically, the North American Boreal Forest (seen in the above picture), stretches from one side of the continent to the other. It is dominantly in Canada and finds its way deep into Alaska also.
Source: enbridgepipedreams.org
Historical Ecological Status
The North American boreal forests from 1971-1989 experienced severe temperature fluctuations. For example, the mean average January temperatures in Fairbanks, Alaska, ranged from -35°C to -7°C. However, the more oceanic locations did not experience such dramatic temperature ranges. In Alaska, the vegetation patterns mirrored those of Scandinavia and Russia because of the relationship between forest fires, permafrost, and the coastal oceanic influences. The soil moisture of these forests typically determined what the vegetation patterns would be: they could be classified as wet, mesic, and dry. For example, the dry soil moisture in parts of Canada because of the frozen ground and dry, harsh winds would cause major water loss in trees, which is especially harmful while their roots are frozen. Historically speaking, although this ecosystem battled some of the toughest weather conditions, it thrived through the 1980’s according to “Environmental Factors and Ecological Processes in Boreal Forests” by Gordan B. Bonan and Herman H. Shugart.
 


Source: borealforestfacts.com
                                                                   
Human Impact
Although most of the boreal forest area in North America is left unpopulated and unindustrialized, it is threatened by constant resource extraction in the area. Many of the locals depend on forestry and mining for economic stability. On a small scale, this wouldn’t be a big deal; however, clear cutting makes up for 90% of the logging in this area. Oil extraction in Alaska remains a controversial topic because of the necessary deforestation in order to drill for the product (Marietta.edu). The construction of dams in the area also creates pollution, flooding, and acid rain issues in the environment. Should these patterns continue, expect to see increasing air and water pollution, which threatens the biodiversity of the forests as well as local citizens (borealforest.org). Majority of the negative impacts on the boreal forests are caused by the mass consumption of the United States (nrdc.org). 


 
 

Future Prospects
In the current Boreal Forest ecosystem, plant and animal species thrive. Because of the lush sanctuaries and fertile surroundings, there is a lot of potential for life and a highly functioning life cycle in this biome. In terms of plants, many are found in this ecosystem, but coniferous trees are heavily dominant. This is mostly due to their extreme ability to adapt to the cold climate, as they retain their needles through winter, which can resist cold conditions and minimize water loss. Broadleaf plants are also vastly found throughout the Boreal Forest biome. They lose their leaves as colder conditions start to come and do not start to regrow until the danger of frost has left. Other commonly seen plant species in this ecosystem are firs, pines, spruces, hemlocks, larches, mosses, and lichens. All of these produce important nutrients for animals that usually come in the form of pinecones or moss. The animal life in the area are all very adapted to the cold weather as well. Of the carnivores, there are vast numbers of bobcats, Siberian tigers, and lynxes. Elk, insects, porcupines, and hares are among the herbivores that vacate the area.
Economies of countries across the world continue to keep paper and wood products in high demand, and the global demand is still rising. Because of the high quality and wood fiber of the trees of the Boreal Forest, it will continue to be essential for forest products and industrial wood. Clear-cutting is a real threat to this ecosystem, and will continue to be in the future. As stated earlier, it makes up for 90% of the logging in this area. The Canadian government has plenty of laws and restrictions regarding forestation, but they aren’t well enforced. Therefore, it can be expected that big portions of the Boreal Forest will be removed and endemic species of the area will become more and more endangered. The animals and plants that are listed above will be heavily impacted if that clear cutting continues. In the Alaskan portion of the Boreal Forest, there are similar problems. There has been a lot of debatable removals of trees and nature for the purpose of oil extraction. This will undoubtedly continue into the future because of the worldwide oil shortage, and will negatively affect this ecosystem. With trees gone, wildlife cannot eat, their habitats are destroyed, plants like the ones listed above are wiped out, and the biome shrinks.
 

Improvements
If there are improvements to be made on a large scale in the Boreal Forest of North America, it has to come from the Canadian government. While ordinary citizens can do a lot in numbers, this biome is generally not inhabited by many, and is most affected by corporations. This means that the government, or the cooperation of provincial governments, will have the most influence and effect. There are many things that can be done to improve this region, but it starts with conservation. This biome can function very highly by itself as it has proven over its existence, but it needs to be allowed to. To do that, the government should more strictly enforce the laws, quotas, and restrictions that they have previously set. The promotion of sustainable forest management needs to continue to be good as well. 94% of this biome that is situated in Canada is public owned. Finally, the government should classify more areas as protected and increase nature reserves in order to protect the forest areas from clear cutting and other forms of logging that hurt the ecosystem. And, of course, it is always smart to make people more aware of the issues that surround them. Schools across Canada and in Alaska, as well as advertising in local communities, can make students and people aware of how important the environment is. The current status of the Boreal Forest in North America is rather good, with 80% of the Canadian Boreal Forest unaltered by roads. However, protection of the environment is extremely important and there can be improvements to help sustain this important ecosystem.

Data


As seen above, trees in Canada are depleting. Although not at an extremely quick rate or at a consistently decreasing rate, Canada’s forests are continuing to get cut each year. Also, a study was done in 2013 by Forest Watch, a global forest monitoring network, which stated that 8% (104 million acres) of the world’s virgin forests were degraded between 2000 and 2013. Of that, 21.4% of that degradation occurred in Canada. More than a fifth of the trees in virgin forests cut in the last thirteen years were in Canada. The study said that, “the interior of British Columbia has seen widespread forest loss, as have parts of northern Ontario and northern Quebec.” This biome does face a serious threat.

 

Works Cited

"About Global Forest Watch: History." Global Forest Watch. 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://www.globalforestwatch.org/about/gfw>.

Bonan, Gordon, and Herman Shugart. "Environmental Factors and Ecological Processes in Boreal Forests." JSTOR. UCLA, 1 Jan. 1989. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/2097082?seq=21>.

"Boreal Forest." The Atlas of Canada. The Atlas OF Canada, 27 Apr. 2009. Web. 28 Nov.

2014.

<http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/learningresources/theme_modules/borealforest/

index.html/>.

"Boreal Forest Life." United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://www.fws.gov/birds/documents/unspoiledfinal>.

"Canada's Boreal Forest - Introduction." Sustainable Forest Management in Canada.

Canadian Council of Forest Ministers, 2012. Web. 28 Nov. 2014.< http://www.sfmcanada.org/english/bp_overview.asp>.

 “Canada Forest Information and Data.” Mongabay.com. 1 Jan. 2006. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://rainforests.mongabay.com/deforestation/2000/Canada.htm>.

"Clearcutting." Clearcutting. Nova Scotia Public Lands Coalition, Ecology Action Centre,

2006. Web. 28 Nov. 2014.< http://www.publicland.ca/issues/clearcutting.html>.

Hall, Forrest, Daniel Botkin, Donald Strebel, Kerry Woods, and Scott Goetz. "Large-Scale Patterns of Forest Succession as Determined by Remote Sensing." JSTOR. UCLA, 1 Jan. 1991. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/2937203?seq=6>.

"North American Boreal Forest." Fragmented Forests. Web. 28 Nov. 2014. <http://www.fragmentedforests.org/forest-facts/north-american-boreal-forest/>.

Sawchuk, Wayne. "Protect North America's Boreal Forest." ForestEthics. 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://www.forestethics.org/boreal-forest>.

Stewart, Harry. "Canada The World Leader In Deforestation, Study Finds." The Huffington Post. 5 Sept. 2014. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/09/05/canada-deforestation-worst-in-world_n_5773142.html>.

"The Canadian Boreal Forest: A Global Treasure Under Threat." National Resources Defense Council. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://www.nrdc.org/land/forests/fboreal.asp>.

"The Taiga or Boreal Forest." Marietta Biology. 14 Oct. 2013. Web. 28 Nov. 2014. <http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/boreal.htm>.

Wells, Jeffrey. "Boreal Forest Threats and Conservation Status." UC Press. 1 Jan. 2012. Web. 28 Nov. 2014. <http://www.ucpress.edu/content/chapters/11986.ch01.pdf>.

 

Picture Citations