NATURAL RESOUCES AND ENERGY

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An ecosystem is a community of both flora and fauna that exist within a certain habitat and their influence on each other suit their stay. Forest ecosystems consist of different sorts of plants and animals that interact with each other. The main component of forest ecosystems is trees. Trees are habitat for the animals within the ecosystem.

Forestry and agriculture

Agricultural practices are set up next to many forests around the world. This is because of the fertility associated with forest areas. Most forest areas are very fertile and prolific in terms of agriculture. The mount of produce in around forest areas is usually higher than in other areas. This is attributable to the cool and wet climatic conditions presented by the forest ecosystem. It is common to find, among other crops, cash-crops in forest areas. Tea and coffee are the leading cash crops that do well in forest regions due to their climate. Farmers also rear livestock around forest areas. This is because forests serve as grazing and browsing areas for their livestock especially during dry spells or for those who do not have enough tracks of land for feeding their livestock. However, agriculture does not augur well with forestry. There are many impacts that agricultural activities have on development of forest ecosystems. Some crop farmers tend to encroach into forests so as to gains access to large tracts of land. In doing so, they interfere with the ecosystem. Some animals living in the forest ecosystem get attracted to some crops by human beings. For instance, some agricultural crops like maize are eaten by different forms of wild animals. Monkeys are good examples. In the event of the maturity of such crops, monkeys have the tendency of uprooting, among eating, and destroying maize. This in effect brings about human wildlife conflict. The farmers try their best to prevent their crops from damage. This leads them to the extent of killing some forest ecosystems so as to make their agricultural activities viable.

Forestry and leisure activities

Forests offer beautiful sceneries and places for people to relax and enjoy themselves. Being sources of rivers, some forest have waterfalls and other wild animals that local people and tourist would like to have a glimpse. Most nations have set up game reserves and national parks within the forest ecosystems. Tourists visit such places and in return the nations get revenue from the fee they receive from tourists. In return the government provides security and other forms of guide to these tourists. It is obvious that some park animals such as elephants, lions and buffalos are very dangerous; they can kill. So in the event of people enjoying themselves within the forest ecosystem, they might interfere with the lives and activities of some wild animals within the ecosystem. This brings in a human wildlife conflict. Some wild animals are killed in the event of protecting their young ones. Some people also get killed when enough security is not sought to prevent such conflicts.

Management practice for sustainability and conservation of forests

Conservation of natural forest ecosystems includes a variety of measures for management of natural and forest types. Management problems of forests include conflicts with the local people over the rights of the land and illegal access of animal and plant resources. Legal protection of forests ensures conservation of those natural resources. Creation of buffer zones forms a manmade obstacle against human encroachment of the mainly protected area. Support of the local people in conservation aims can be enhanced by the active involvement in the harvesting and management of the buffer zones. This can protected be through better practices of agroforestrty practices, hunting and establishment of forest and agriculture tree plantations.

A sustainable wildlife management system is also of much importance. The habitats of wildlife are being reduced and destroyed by agriculture practices, livestock rearing and the continued overharvesting of the forest resources. Wildlife poaching has also led to the extinction of many wild species. The fauna sustainability has been majorly threatened by habitat degradation and excessive hunting of game. This can be limited through establishing of sound ban measures on the use and sale of game thus putting an end to poaching. Biodiversity development, improvement and sustainable use are quite preferable to the idea of total ban on the commercializing and marketing of wildlife other related products. It is of much importance to make considerations of the increased multiple uses that wildlife provides to human beings such as recreation, food not leaving behind the scientific, cross-cultural, economic importance and ecological functions.

Fire protection management practices are also crucial. Fire is a natural component of many forest ecosystems. It can damage vegetation leading to erosion of soil and loss of fertility. Fire outbreaks can also lead to harmful effects through carbon emissions during the process of combustion. Most fire outbreaks are as a result of human intervention which include deliberate deforestation, slush and burn cultivation , regeneration of rangeland , accidents , traditional uses such as religious and tribal functions and political and socio-economic disagreements over use of land and rights of ownership. Fire control measures are a matter of enhanced popular education programs and sound agricultural policies as opposed to direct control methods and responses.

Management for soil components and water conservation also is important. Forested watershed areas that provide clean water to densely populated areas should be protected against practices of shifting cultivation and urbanization without proper planning. The management practices in such areas should be effective surveillance measures to protect forest cover resources.

REFERNCES

Fisher, R. J., Maginnis, S, Jackson, W.J, Barrow, E, and Jeanrenaud .S. (2005). Policy and Conservation: Landscapes, People and Power. Gland, Switzerland, and Cambridge, UK: IUCN The World Conservation Union.

Hagar, J.C. (2007). Wildlife species associated with non coniferous vegetation in Pacific Northwest conifer forests: A review. Forest Ecology and Management.