3) On
each of the Data Collection sheets is an explanation of how to gather
the data, as well as the equipment needed. It is important to stress
to the students that they need to take their time and be as accurate
as possible when collecting the data. As the old saying goes “garbage
in, garbage out”. They cannot expect to make any realistic conclusions
for their data, if they have no information to base it on.
4) Once the data is collected, the next phase begins in interpreting
the data. Some brief comments that you can use to summarize each portion
of the data is provided below. As well, you can use the Data
Summary Worksheet to help students focus their thoughts and use
the data to formulate answers to related questions on forest sustainability.
| A) |
Forest
Inventory
Questions
to foster discussion:
? Was the forest
diverse in respect to tree species? Why is a diverse forest
better then one that is of a monoculture nature?
General Comments:
* The
data should indicate that there is variety in tree species,
diameters, heights and ages (unless of course you used a site
that was planted).
* Monocultures
are very susceptible to natural disturbances like insect infestations,
disease outbreaks, windstorms, fires, etc.
* A forest
typically will be more stable if it is diverse in species, age,
diameter and height.
* Older
trees of only one species will be reaching the end of their
life cycle at basically the same time, resulting in the total
decline of that forest or stand. |
| B) |
Soil
Data
Questions
to foster discussion:
? What are
the depths of the various horizons and what does that data indicate
in relation to the rest of the forest? What was the filtration
rate,(eg. fast or slow)?
General Comments:
* The greater
the depth of the A Horizon, the more organic material you have,
so generally the site is considered to be healthier ( this is
the live part of the soil where all the decomposition is taking
place).
* The filtration
rate is important as well. Slow filtration usually indicates heavy,
clay soil - water would run off quickly, leaving very little to
be absorbed down through to the roots. |
| C) |
Site
Regeneration
Questions
to foster discussion:
? Was regeneration present or absent, heavy or light? Was there
a diversity in the types of regeneration?
General Comments:
*There
are many factors which can influence the growth of seedlings,
including the availability of sunlight, competition, soil, etc.
*Part
of forest sustainability is having a forest (the new generation
of trees) establishing itself underneath the canopy of the existing
forest. This helps to shorten the rotation between forest stands.
In areas that we are managing, we cannot afford to be waiting
for the natural rotation to take place. |
| D) |
Tree
Data
Questions
to foster discussion:
? What factors may have contributed to the larger/smaller growth
rings? Is the tree still growing at a satisfactory rate for its’
age or is it declining?
General Comments;
* A
tree puts on an annual growth ring each year called an increment.
The width of that growth ring is an indicator of how well the
tree is growing.
* By using this method of sampling age, we can determine quite accurately
how old a forest or stand is without actually doing any harm to
it. You cannot look at the outside of a tree and determine its
age.
* If
the age of the forest is relatively young and it is healthy, the
options are open to a variety of silvicultural or forest management
treatments. |
| E) |
Forest
Biodiversity
Questions
to foster discussion:
? Is the forest
area diverse in respect to other forms of life?
General Comments:
* Biodiversity can relate to the different species you have in
an area but it can also relate to the numbers you have.
* There is a part of the ecosystem which often gets overlooked
because we cannot see it with the naked eye, that being the
micro-organisms.
* Diversity is very important within natural ecosystems to ensure
that balances are kept in check (“diversity leads
to stability” ).
* The more living things that are found of different species,
the more diverse the forest is. |
Data Summary Worksheet is an optional activity that can be completed by each group
of students. In order to answer all of the questions, the date
collection sheets must be photocopied and distributed to each
group.
The
final phase of the Forest Sustainability Plan is to actually
develop a short and long term plan for the forest you have surveyed.
The following are the requirements of most management plans
and these can be distributed to each group.
|
| 1) |
Know your forest. |
| 2)
|
Decide
what it is you want from that forest and develop goals
and objectives for it. (To reach your goals and objectives,
choices and trade-offs will no doubt be necessary). As
with many other things, you may find out that you can’t
always have your cake and eat it too!). |
| 3) |
Set
your priorities based on the information you gathered
from the forest. Some parts may need immediate attention,
while others can wait. |
| 3) |
Set
priorities based on the information you gathered. There
are different ways to manage your forest for different
values, (eg., wildlife enhancement, recreation and aesthetics,
soil and water conservation, your existence to name just
a few). A forest can be managed for individual values
or for a combination of many. It is entirely up to you,
you are the Manager. |
| 4) |
Review your plan with experts in the field of forest management
(there is plenty of opportunities for free advice out
there). |
| 5) |
Implement your plan based on a sustainable future (you
have to remember the benefits may not be seen in your
lifetime). |
|
