Unit 4 - Global Impacts
Completion requirements
Social Use Impacts
In Unit 5, we will learn that there are many stakeholders involved in the forest industry, all of which need to be involved in forest management decisions. Globally, we are becoming more aware about the benefits of forests on our mental and
physical well-being. Urban planners are working to add more greenspace so that even those living in cities can access woodlands or green spaces without facing barriers. At the same time, global citizens are becoming more conscious of the
need to be informed and involved in forest conservation, planning, and health.
Image Source: Pixabay
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Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia
Image Source: Pixabay
Image Source: Pixabay
In Unit 3, we learned that there are many benefits to having greenspaces in cities. Trees clean the air, provide shade to keep things cool, and can be used for recreation. We also learned that relaxing amongst trees, which is called forest bathing,
greatly reduces stress.
People can also use urban forests for spiritual ceremonies or for a sense of being part of the living environment. Celebrations and traditional ceremonies that attract big gatherings of people can be enhanced when delivered in an outdoor setting which promotes social inclusion of individuals from all spheres of life.
People can also use urban forests for spiritual ceremonies or for a sense of being part of the living environment. Celebrations and traditional ceremonies that attract big gatherings of people can be enhanced when delivered in an outdoor setting which promotes social inclusion of individuals from all spheres of life.
As people become more aware of the importance of trees to our personal and global health, more individuals, families, and community groups are looking for ways to become involved in a solution. Eco-volunteering is volunteering in a way
that helps the environment. Volunteers may plant trees, clean greenspaces, take care of wildlife, or help with research. For example, in eastern Canada the Budworm Tracker program tasks volunteers with helping scientists by collecting and reporting on-the-ground research about budworms collected in traps provided by the Healthy Forest Partnership.
Nationally and globally there are many programs like TreeCanada and LEAF that need volunteers to help plant trees or monitor insects or wildlife.
Nationally and globally there are many programs like TreeCanada and LEAF that need volunteers to help plant trees or monitor insects or wildlife.
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Image Source: Infographic Journal. Fair Use.
Image Source: Infographic Journal. Fair Use.
With an increase in societal awareness of the negative impact of humans on the environment, there is more interest in having eco-friendlier lifestyles. In urban centers, this may bring an increased demand for better public transit or
walking and biking paths as people choose to decrease their carbon footprint. Those trying to make eco-friendlier choices that help forests may:
It is important to note that eco-friendly labels, both nationally and globally, have come under scrutiny for not actually protecting or conserving forests and ecosystems. Consumers are encouraged to not just accept the “green” logo, but to be informed about where these products are from and how they are harvested and made.
- Eat Less Meat: many areas used for grazing cattle could be reforested.
- Use Less Paper: the less paper you use, the less trees used, the less trees cut
- Recycle more: decreases production of new paper products
- Compost: Reduces landfill and makes soil
- Reduce Purchases: buying less reduces impact on environment
- Replace Disposables: replace disposables with
- Shop Smart: Look for, and research, eco-friendly, sustainable and fair/ethical products
- Use Less Water: removes less water from the natural environment
- Grow a garden: reduces carbon used to transport food is a use for compost
- Shopping locally: decreases the carbon footprint needed to transport products
It is important to note that eco-friendly labels, both nationally and globally, have come under scrutiny for not actually protecting or conserving forests and ecosystems. Consumers are encouraged to not just accept the “green” logo, but to be informed about where these products are from and how they are harvested and made.
Society is demanding more forest education as our knowledge of its global and individual benefits grow. Forest education may look like a forestry course, like the one you are working on right now, or may be something covered in your
biology class, or may start in even younger earlier grades, through in a forest program or forest school.
Forest programs are after school or summer programs based on the forest school model. Forest schools originated in Europe and are an internationally recognized approach to education for kindergarten aged children. Forest schools foster the natural curiosity of children while providing lots of exercise, instead of sitting quietly at a desk. More importantly, forest school students develop a personal appreciation for the forest and natural environment around them, especially when they're surrounded by trees, rocks, and wildlife.
In Denmark, about 10 percent of schools are forest schools. Currently there are almost 50 registered forest schools in Canada; when these schools are publicly funded, they must follow the provincial curriculum but, as often as possible, the outdoor environment is their classroom.
Forest programs are after school or summer programs based on the forest school model. Forest schools originated in Europe and are an internationally recognized approach to education for kindergarten aged children. Forest schools foster the natural curiosity of children while providing lots of exercise, instead of sitting quietly at a desk. More importantly, forest school students develop a personal appreciation for the forest and natural environment around them, especially when they're surrounded by trees, rocks, and wildlife.
In Denmark, about 10 percent of schools are forest schools. Currently there are almost 50 registered forest schools in Canada; when these schools are publicly funded, they must follow the provincial curriculum but, as often as possible, the outdoor environment is their classroom.
Forest Facts
Studies have shown that students enrolled in forest schools have better physical health, academic performance, and social development than children the same age in traditional kindergarten programs. Children who play outside together also have better social skills and critical thinking skills. Several studies have shown that learning and playing outside can alleviate ADHD Symptoms.
Forest Facts
Nature Deficit Disorder (NDD)
Nature Deficit Disorder was an idea developed by Richard Louv in his 2005 book Last Child in the Woods. NDD is caused by spending less time with nature which can lead to poor attention span or bad moods from lack of sunlight.
Nature Knowledge Deficit (NKD)
NKD is the idea that we do not know as much about the natural environment as we used to, including what is in it and even possibly where food comes from.
NKD is the idea that we do not know as much about the natural environment as we used to, including what is in it and even possibly where food comes from.
The frequency and size of forest fires are expected to rise with climate change. People living or working in wildland urban interfaces, rural communities or remote areas, many of which are Indigenous, are especially affected. Thousands
of people are evacuated each year as a result of forest fires.
The cost of fire management across Canada has risen from an average annual cost of $290 million in the early 1970s to more than $900 million in 2013, and over $1 billion in more recent years. With the number of fires and the area burned each year projected to increase due to climate change, these costs are expected to continue to rise.
The cost of fire management across Canada has risen from an average annual cost of $290 million in the early 1970s to more than $900 million in 2013, and over $1 billion in more recent years. With the number of fires and the area burned each year projected to increase due to climate change, these costs are expected to continue to rise.
Forest Fact
Wildland-urban interface refers to areas where homes are built near or within forests prone to fire.
Fire management includes a range of options, from putting fires out to letting them burn themselves out. Fire managers aim to balance fire’s ecological benefits with the need to protect people’s safety, property, timber and other forest resources and values. Residential areas, recreational sites, valuable commercial forests, rare habitats, and culturally significant areas are high priorities for fire suppression. In wilderness parks and remote forests where fires pose no threat to communities or infrastructure, fires are left to burn, although with careful monitoring to ensure safety.
According to The Nature Conservancy, of the major conservation ecoregions in the world
- 46 percent are fire dependent/influenced
- 36 percent are fire sensitive
- 18 percent are fire independent
This means that 82% of the protected ecoregions in the world are at risk of forest fire. The Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) reports that 80 to 90% of wildland fires are caused by human activities.
These fires are started for clearing forest and woodland for agriculture, maintaining grasslands for livestock management, extraction of NWFPs, industrial development, resettlement, hunting, or accidentally. In Canada, between 2007 to 2017, 41 percent of fires were started accidentally, and globally, the majority of forest fires are set to clear land for agriculture.
Both national and global public awareness programs are working to educate communities on the impact of forest fires and fire prevention. Unfortunately, as noted previously, in developing countries there are many underlying causes to why forest fires are started.
In Canada, programs such as FireSmart provide advice, and much more, on how to protect homes and communities and prepare for forest fires.
Forest Facts
To reduce the risk of forest fire, homeowners can keep trees thinned and branches trimmed around homes and use fire-resistant materials for fences, decks and roofing. Communities can reduce fuels surrounding buildings by thinning forests, creating fire guards, and planting species that have moist leaves and low amounts of sap or resin.
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Courtesy of Natural Resources Canada
Courtesy of Natural Resources Canada