Questions and Answers
What is an old-growth forest?
What is a second-growth forest?
Stands of trees resulting from secondary ecological succession.
Define a tree plantation.
A site planted with one or only a few tree species in an even-aged stand.
What is fuelwood?
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What is neem known for?
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What is selective cutting?
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What is clear-cutting?
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Define strip-cutting.
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What is a surface fire?
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What is a crown fire?
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What does the Healthy Forests Restoration Act allow?
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What is rangeland?
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Define grassland.
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What is a nature reserve?
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What does wilderness mean?
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Study Notes
Forest Types and Definitions
- Old-growth forest: Characterized by virgin and ancient trees, often hundreds to thousands of years old, supporting high biodiversity.
- Second-growth forest: Formed through secondary ecological succession, these are stands of trees that regenerate after disturbances.
Tree Management and Harvesting
- Tree plantation: Managed sites planted with one or few tree species, typically harvested by clear-cutting then replanted; often cultivated for rapidly growing species used for fuel, timber, or pulpwood.
- Selective cutting: Involves removing specific mature or diseased trees in uneven-aged forests, promoting younger tree growth and maintaining biodiversity.
- Clear-cutting: A method that entails the complete removal of all trees within a designated area in a single operation.
- Strip-cutting: Modified clear-cutting technique involving narrow corridors cleared along the land's contour, allowing natural regeneration before subsequent strips are cut.
Fire Dynamics in Forests
- Surface fire: A type of forest fire that burns primarily the undergrowth and leaf litter without affecting larger trees.
- Crown fire: A more intense fire that can consume both ground vegetation and the tops of trees, often causing extensive damage.
Legislative Context
- Healthy Forests Restoration Act (2003): Facilitates timber company operations to remove medium and large trees from 71% of National Forest areas in exchange for managing smaller, fire-prone vegetation, bypassing certain environmental reviews.
Land Types and Conservation
- Rangeland: Lands that provide forage for grazing animals and are not subject to intensive management practices.
- Grassland: Biomes characterized by sufficient moderate rainfall to support grass and small plants, but not large trees.
- Nature reserve: Large protected areas established to conserve plant and animal species and their habitats.
- Wilderness: Regions with minimal human presence, preserving natural landscapes and ecosystems.
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Description
This quiz explores various forest types, including old-growth and second-growth forests, as well as different tree management and harvesting methods like clear-cutting and selective cutting. Test your knowledge on how these practices impact forest ecology and sustainability.