Why is Forest Management Necessary?

What is Forest Management?

Before going on with the benefits of managing forests, let’s start by understanding the term first. As the name suggests, forest management is the process of planning and implementing new ecologically sustainable practices to prevent over exploitation of forest lands and wildlife. The procedure is specially designed to meet specific environmental, social, economic, and cultural objectives, while making sure that the forest resources are accessible to the public. Special care is taken for certain areas, including wetlands, riparian buffer zones, etc. as they are the richest source of natural resources.

What makes forest management necessary?

Soil Conservation

Since our childhood we have been reading the many benefits of lush green forests. Not only do they help produce oxygen for our daily sustenance but their roots also play many essential roles like holding the earth crust tightly. The tighter the hold is, the lesser are the chances of soil erosion or landslides. Apart from that, the organic litter falling on the ground also helps the soil replenish themselves, therefore creating a more fertile area for further flora growth. Thus for the betterment of all, following the ecologically sustainable forest management practices is a must.

Managing the temperature

Apart from offering food and raw materials, forests also work together to keep the environmental temperature in check. From filtering down dust particles to enhancing the production of fresh oxygen, there is a lot that humanity has taken for granted. Similarly, the leaves are known to absorb extra moisture and carbon dioxide from the air for synthesizing food, which eventually leads to better control on temperature and climates. Many scientific reports have also time and again advised for greater focus on tree plantation to meet the changing needs of the world.

Watershed protection

Working as a giant filtering system for water bodies, forests help determine the quality and quantity of water that is passed on to streams or lakes. Generally during rain or snowfall, the water is either absorbed by the ground or gets collected by the tree roots. Upon collection, the water has to pass through various layers of the soil that aids in clearing it from any harmful substances that might be present. Afterwards, it gets added in the underground freshwater reservoirs or is transcribed back into the air by the tree leaves.

Prevent invasive species

Many farmers and field workers often have to suffer huge losses in their line of work due to the side-effects of many invasive, parasitic plants. These plants grow rapidly, taking away all the nutrition from a healthy plant, even depriving the soil of its nutrients. As a cost-effective sustainable agriculture and forest management measure, introducing local plants to the land can however do wonders. They prevent the growth of these invasive species while simultaneously nurturing the soil with natural resources. Moreover, the roots of large trees also make freshwater readily available through rain, snowfall, etc.

Conclusion:

Forests are no doubt crucial for human and wildlife sutainance. Thus, if you are planning to learn more about the various benefits of adopting ecologically sustainable forest management practices, SFM is your best bet. Built with the motive to educate their clients about the advantages of Green Earth, the site offers valuable advice on managing Australia’s private native forest. For more details, check their website!