Geography

Key unit competence:

 By the end of this unit, I should be able to explain the impact of forests and forestry

in sustainable development.

 Introductory activity

By using different geographical documents and resources, answer the

questions that follow:

1. Examine the implications of lumbering to the sustainable

development of any country.

2. Analyse the negative effects of lumbering on the physical

environment and show how forested areas of the world can be

conserved and protected.

3. Using the acquired competences from Unit 9; name the major types of

forests of the world and identify their characteristics..

The term forestry refers to the process of exploiting the forested areas of the world in

a sustainable manner, managing the forests to ensure their conservation, protection

and better use. The forests of the world have varying characteristics that distinguish

them from each other. These characteristics are studied under Unit 9 of senior five.

Forestry differs from Lumbering because lumbering refers to the economic activity

that involves cutting down trees, extraction of timber and logs for various purposes

or commercial reasons.

There are many products that forests provide. Some are for meeting man’s commercial

needs while others are for subsistence (man’s survival). Therefore, when man utilizes

the forest resources to meet his or her needs, it is called forest exploitation. This

implies that forests can be exploited in varying ways including: Collecting mushrooms

and firewood, tourism activities, collection of building materials, gathering of fruits,

herbal and medicinal products, charcoal making, hunting, wild honey collection,

creating homesteads for tribal and bush men. 

13.1: Importance of forest exploitation and problems affecting lumbering

Learning activity 13.1

Study the photograph provided below and use it to answer the questions that follow:

1. Name the activity taking place in the area shown in the photograph

above.

2. Assess the problems affecting the activity taking place in the area shown

in the photograph.

3. Suggest the ways of promoting sustainable utilization of forest resources

in a country like Rwanda.

13.1.1. Products from lumbering

There are products or resources obtained from forests and are later used to produce

other products. Such products include those that fall under lumbering products

or products from lumbering. The following are the major products made from

lumbering:

13.1.2: Importance of forest exploitation in the world

Below is a detailed explanation of the importance of forest exploitation in the World:

– Source of raw materials: Forests help human to have access to the raw

materials that are needed in making various products such as furniture, pulp

and paper.

– Provision of building materials: Forests provide different types of materials

used in the construction sector. Poles and timber needed in building homes

are all got from the forests.

– Source of wood fuel: Forests provide wood fuel in the form of firewood and

charcoal that support both remote and urban low-income earners.

– Source of foreign exchange: There are several countries of the world

whose economy depends on the export of forest products such as pulp and

paper, hardwood, softwood, timber among many other. These countries use

the foreign exchange earned to cater for national development programs.

Examples of such countries include; Gabon, DRC, Ghana, Finland, Canada and

Sweden.

– Creation of employment opportunities: There are a big number of people

that are employed by the forestry sector. There are those who work as forest

rangers, lumbermen, and forestry conservation officers.

– Urban development:The exploitation of forests resulted into the growth and

development of urban centres in the regions where they exist. The companies

that are engaged in lumbering set up social facilities such as schools, hospitals,

and others that support their employees. The increase of people who come to

work in this sector provides business opportunities such as hotels and trading

activities. All these, put together, influence the development of urban centres.

These towns and cities, whose development is based on the activities related

to forests and forestry, include Solderhamn, Umea, harnosand in Sweden;

Trondheimn in Norway; Lambarene and Port Gentil in Gabon. The coming up

of such towns and cities supports the general development of the area.

– Homeland for flora and fauna: The availability of fauna in a given area

contributes to the development of the eco-tourism which has had its positive

contribution towards the socio-economic development of the world.

– Recreation: Forests are suitable places for relaxation and leisure activities.

Several people go to forests and camp there for camp fire or retreat

associations. While others go for hunting, forest walking, animal tracking and

canopy walking.

– Source of food: Forests are reliable comprehensive food baskets for many

primitives and communities that live near them. Special nuts, fruits, greens in

the form of vegetables, mushrooms, yams among many others, are all collected

at a free charge from the forests. These have enabled man to live a healthy life.– Source of herbal medicine: Most of the medicines both processed or locally

extracted originate from forests. The good examples are chinchona whose

bark is used to make Quinine that treats malaria.

– Support capital flow: There are many local and foreign investors that

contribute huge sums of capital into the economies of countries where forest

exploitation is concerned. These investors come along with skills that are

taught to the locals.

– Homeland for primitive tribes: Forests have for many centuries provided

lodging for primitive tribes. There are still several tribes that find their livelihood

from forests. It is believed that more than 1000 tribes are still dependant on

forests for food, settlement, protection against other hostile tribes and wild

animals.

13.1.3: Problems limiting forest exploitation

The lumbering activity is the main activities that foster for exploitation of the forested

areas. However, there are various problems affecting lumbering as mentioned below:

– Inaccessibility of some forested areas: There is a problem of failing to access

the appropriate tall and reasonably sized trees that can yield the best timber or

logs. This is attributed to the jungle nature of most of the forests characterized

by thick undergrowth, creeping and climbing plants; especially the tropical

rainforests and monsoon forests. The good example is Amazon and Congo

basins.

– Trees do not appear in pure stands: The lumbermen find it difficult to get

trees that occur in pure stands and in close proximity. The few that appear in

pure stands are scattered all over and locating them is more laborious and

time consuming.

– Long gestation period: Most of the trees of commercial value such as

mahogany, iron heart, Ebony, okoume, Azigo and many others take long to

reach maturity. This has made it hard for lumbermen to get a quick regeneration

of the felled trees.

– Harsh climatic conditions: Most of the forests where lumbering takes place

are associated with climatic conditions that put the lives of workers and

lumbermen in general at great risk. The wet and humid conditions make

the forested area less unsuitable for humans to spend long days there. This

discourages people to work as a lumberman. There are winter conditions

that affect lumbering such as coldness e.g. Scandinavia, Sweden and British

Columbia.

– Shortage of enough market: The creation of other products that have

substituted timber products has reduced the demand for forests products.

There are metallic bars and plastic/fibre products that are used in the building

of houses and industrial installations. – Limited adequate capital: The capital needed to fund the lumbering

operations is inadequate. This has made it difficult to modernize lumbering

sector and hire the appropriate skilled labour. Therefore, the lumbermen are

challenged with purchasing the advanced equipment.

– Political upheavals: The forested areas have steadily remained the bet

hideouts for rebels and war mongers. This has made it difficult to conduct

lumbering from such areas. The good example is the Congo basin in DRC.

– Limited research: There is little, or no research carried out in relation to

lumbering in some countries. This has made most of the lumbermen to

remain devoted to elementary methods of tree felling. This reduces the scale

of production of lumber.

– The bulky hardwood: Most of the woods extracted from forests, especially

in the tropical world, are of high density. They are bulky and very heavy.

Transporting them using cheap means of transport such as water, or floating

them on rivers is not possible.

– Stiff competition: There is increased competition between the countries of

the world engaged in lumbering. This has made it difficult for some countries

to profit from the lumbering sector because of being ousted. Examples:

Sweden and Norway.

– Unsustainable exploitation of forests: There is a challenge of using the

methods that have indiscriminately led to the over exploitation of forests.

This has limited continuous production of lumber products in a sustainable

manner. This is common in Gabon, DRC and South American countries such

as Brazil.

– Poor technology used: The lumbering sector in most of the developing

world still faces the challenge of using poor equipment, methods of felling

and transporting lumber products. The logs are dragged out of the forests by

elephants which is difficult and time consuming. The simple axes and pangas

are used. Such is a common practice in Gabon.

– Shortage of labour supply: Lumbering is affected by lack of enough

labour force of all kinds. This has made it hard for the companies engaged in

lumbering meeting to operate. The few available skilled employees are hired

at high expenses/costs.

– The existence of buttress roots:There are trees that have big roots exposed

above the ground level. These make the extraction of timber and felling of

trees in general more challenging, risky and time consuming.

– Fire outbreak: The lumbering sector is greatly affected by bush fire outbreaks.

This is a common occurrence in the developed world where temperate and

coniferous forests are common. It results in the destruction of equipment.

Prolonged drought: Climate change has resulted in rain failure and drought in many parts of

the country. This has led to the shrinking of the forest cover.

Application Activity 13.1

1. List the products which are extracted from the lumbering sector.

2. Describe the three ways through which lumbering can be conducted in a

sustainable manner without affecting the environment.

3. Identify the major problemsaffecting the forest exploitation in the world and

suggest their solutions.

13.2:Methods of forest exploitation/lumbering and forest conservation measures

Learning activity 13.2

Using the past studies and geographica documents,internet

research on the following:

a. Describe the methods of forest exploitation.

b. State and explain the forest conservation measures to be used to ensure

sustainable forest exploitation.

13.2.1: Methods of forest exploitation

The methods of forest exploitation involve the ways of utilizing the forest resources

but in a sustainable way; and at the same time ensuring that sustainable forest

management is practiced, making sure that there is continuous utilization of forests.

(i) Preparation: the first stage is to survey the area to be exploited. It is

important to find out where the best stands of timber are, or where the most

valuable trees are most numerous, so that the best parts of the forest can be

used.

(ii) Felling: This is the second step in the lumbering process or forest

exploitation for lumber. It involves cutting down trees by the lumbermen.

Therefore, the selected and marked trees in step on are cut down. This means

that only the marked trees are felled down, leaving the young ones to grow

to maturity.

(iv) Bucking: This is the third stage in the forest exploitation/lumbering. It

involves cutting a felled and lumbered tree into logs of varying lengths. This

is carried out to facilitate the easy transportation of logs to the collection

centres and at the same time to make it easy to extract lumber from them. The

branches of felled tree are trimmed off. The parts of the tree that are cracked

or not straight are chopped off too.

(v) Yarding or dragging: This is the fourth stage of the lumbering process.

It involves removing logs or the trimmed trunks from the inner part of the

forest to the collecting centres ready for transportation to the extraction

points (sawmill areas) also called booming ground. Sometimes these logs are

dragged to the banks of rivers where they are dropped into the river to float

to the collection centres.

(vi) Loading process: This stage involves loading the logs onto the heavy

trucks to be transported to the booming centers. At the booming place

lumber and other assorted lumber products are extracted from the logs.

(vii) Barging: This process involves taking logs to the booming grounds using

heavy trucks. It is commonly practiced using water transport where logs are

floated on watertowards the collection centres. The logs of less density are

the ones that float on water and flow downstream up to the collection points.

(viii) Booming ground (Extraction of lumber/other products): This is the

final stage that involves the extraction of lumber and other products from the

logs. Here, heavy and high technology are used. Machines are used to extract

lumber from the logs. The varying products produced are then packed and

readied for marketing or export.13.2.2: Forest conservation measures

Forest conservation refers to all the ways and processes of protecting, managing

and ensuring the sustainable utilisation of forests and their resources. Forests play

a great role in making our physical environment suitable for human habitation.

Without them the climate of our planet would become hostile. Their significant

contribution towards making our world good and meeting the demands of man

through the provision of forest products justifies the need to protect and conserve

them.

The following are some of the appropriate measures for forest conservation:

(i) Mass education: The local population settled around the forested areas are

sensitized on the positive contribution of forests to both the physical environment

and man’s survival. In this case it will enable them to develop a positive attitude

towards forest conservation measures.

(ii) Reforestation: This is a forest measure that involves planting trees in the places

that have been seriously deforested. Usually, such places are planted with quick

maturing tree species.

(iii) Putting strict laws in place: The government should enact laws that govern

and regulate forest exploitation. This will extend the hand towards punishing even

the people who misuse and destroy forests.

(iv) Forest reserves: This measure aims at setting aside some forested areas for the

purpose of reserving forest resources for future use. Such places are controlled and

protected by the Law. In such protected forests there are times when exploitation

may be allowed but under strict observation.

(v) Increased licensing fee: This limits the number of companies that are interested

in forest exploitation. The higher the licensing fee, the less the number investors and

the greater the chances of having forests which are not exploited.

 (vi)Intensive research: There are intensive research findings in the sector of forms

of energy and power that are put in place. These have replaced the use of wood fuel

with Biogas and hydroelectric power.

(vii) Forest products substitutes:This emphasises the use of materials that can

serve as those of forest products. These are called forest products substitutes. They

include metallic bars, plastic materials and ceramics. This assists in the reduction of

the demand for forest products, whereby for example instead of using timber for

roof making, metallic bars are used.

(viii) Agro-forestry programs: This is a forest conservation method that is being

advocated by most of the countries of the world. It involves growing crops alongside

the trees in the same piece of land. It increases the number of trees planted and at

the same time enables the environment to be protected. It reduces the population

pressure on natural forested areas since other sources of forest products will be in

place.

(ix) Training the Forest officers: Qualified personnel is trained and deployed to

various regions of the country as forestry extension officers. They monitor the forest

conservation measures being implemented and provide technical advice to the

local communities neighbouring the forested areas.

(x)Construction of look-out towers: These are established to enable the forest

guards to watch at least the greatest part of the forest against any fire outbreak.

They are usually above the forested area and they use binoculars to be able to have

a coverage of line of sight to greater distance.

Application Activity 13.2

Study the passage below and answer the questions that follow:

One country in the Southern part of Africa has registered a very high percentage of

deforestation as a result of shifting cultivation, wood harvesting, and settlements

established in the conserved forested areas. Thereafter, the government and nongovernmental organizations have come up to rescue the situation. One of the NGOs

that have worked to conserve the forests is RIPPLE Africa. This NGO had several meetings

and mass education programs with all the parties concerned by deforestation. From

the initiative of RIPPLE Africa, strict laws have been enacted to protect the forests from

destruction. The NGO has emphasized agro-based farming, zero grazing, and forest

reserves identification and creation.

However, the local population require wood resources for various uses. The government

has registered some few lumbering companies and got them license for lumbering, but

they need help and expertise from people of good will”

1. Suppose you are hired by the country mentioned in the passage above, show

how you would be of great help towards the restoration of its environment.

2. Identify the forest conservation measures indicated in the passage above.

3. Describe the various methods which may be used in forest exploitation.13.3: Forestry studies in selected countries

Learning Activity:13.3

1. Use the text books and other learning materials available such as the school

library, ICT tools, to research on forestry in Gabon, Scandinavia, Sweden and

British Columbia.

2. Discuss the forestry in each of the countries listed above

13.3.1: Forestry in Gabon

Gabon is 80% covered by dense forest for an area of 22 million hectares in which

20 million hectares is productive. Gabon is ranked first in terms of forest surface per

habitant (22 hectares per habitant). Gabon’s forest is gifted with a large diversity of

exceptional species, which makes it essentially a forestry country.

Gabon’s forestshave always supplied many of the necessities of life, especially fuel

and shelter. The forests contain over 400 species of trees, with about 100 species

suitable for industrial use. Commercial exploitation began as early as 1892, but it

is only in 1913 that okoumé (Gabon’s most valuable wood) was introduced to the

international market.

Forestry was the primary source of economic activity in the country until 1968, when

the industry was supplanted by crude oil as an earner of foreign currency. Gabon

is the largest exporter of raw wood in the region, and its sales represent 20% of

Africa’s raw wood exports. Forestry is second only to the petroleum sector in export

earnings. Gabon’s reserves of exploitable timber include: okoumé, ozigo, ilomba,

azobé and padouk. Gabon supplies 90% of the world’s okoumé, which makes

excellent plywood, and also produces hardwoods, such as mahogany, kevazingo,

and ebony. Other woods are: movingui and zingana.

The logging or lumbering operations have now shifted towards the interior after

increased pressure on the coastal forested regions. The country has several ports

that handle the exports of raw wood. These include Port Gentil, Port Libreville,

PortOwendo. 

img4

Factors favouring forestry development in Gabon

The forestry industry of Gabon is supported and favoured by several factors as

follows:

– Good climatic conditions: Gabon is geographically located in the region

covered by equatorial climate. This region receives heavy rainfall throughout

the year. This has supported the growth of a variety of trees as mentioned

above.

– Warm conditions: Gabon experiences high temperatures (25°c and above).

These support the growth of luxuriant forests that have supported the

development of the Gabonese forest industry.

– The availability of various tree species: There are more than 400 species in

the forests of Gabon. This has given the forestry industry to meet almost any

order placed by the consumers locally and internationally. Some of these tree

species are hardly found else in the world.

– The presence of various rivers: There is a network of rivers radiating from the

jungle forested areas of the interior. These have supported the development

of forestry industry in Gabon. The logs of less density are floated on rivers to

the collection centers. – Relief:The terrain of Gabon is gentle and generally flat in some parts. This

factor has favoured the creation of transport facilities within and around the

forested areas. It has made it easy for the lumbermen to access the forests.

– Presence of enough Hydro-electrical power (HEP): The rivers originating

from the interior forests, which are commonly referred to as water catchment

areas, have contributed to the generation of HEP. This has played a great role in

the development of Gabonese forest industry. The power generated is used at

the sawmill centres in the loading and unloading of the forest products.

– Low population: Gabon is known for its low population density. This fact has

left large vast portions of land under forests. It has reduced the risk of human’s

encroachment on the forests and it has supported the forest industry in the

country.

– Availability of fertile soils: The availability of suitable and fertile soils has

played a role in supporting the growth of luxuriant trees in the forests.

– Strategic position: Gabon is strategically positioned near the Atlantic Ocean.

This position favours the establishment of sawmills and extraction of plants

along the coast. It gives Gabon the advantage of accessing foreign markets for

its forestry products.

– Availability of required capital: This has resulted from the revenues from the

huge production of oil while the country has a low population, which means

that there are less expenses on social challenges.

– The governments involvement: The Gabonese government has invested in

forestry operations. It owns large companies that process the lumber within

the country. These companies add value to the forest products before export,

hence making the products able to compete favourably.

– The presence of foreign companies: There are large concessions or

investment companies from foreign countries. These companies provide

large sums of capital and technical skills to the industry. It has boosted the

development of the Gabonese forest industry. An example is a Swiss company

known as CompagnieEquatoriale des Bois (CEB).

– Availability of enough market: The presence of adequate markets for the

Gabonese forest products. The markets are provided by several countries

including China, Israel and other Asian countries.

– Availability enough labour force: There is a steady supply of labour force

provided by both the local population and neighbouring countries. This

workforce is supplemented by foreign expatriates who come along with

foreign investors. All these have contributed to the development of the

forestry in Gabon.

– Presence of improved technology: The forestry sector in Gabon is currently

run by modern techniques. This has come about due to improved technology.

The lumbermen now use power driven saws, tractors and bulldozers to carry

out the dragging of logs from the forests to the collection centres.

– Favourable government policies: The Gabonese government has designed

and introduced the policies that aim at ensuring the sustainable utilization

of forests. The need to create more employment opportunities to the local

people has become the driving force behind the development of this sector.

– The increased level of industrialization: There has been and still is need

for raw materials to feed the upcoming industries especially paper and pulp,

furniture and construction industries. This has made the forestry a recursive

economic sector that is worth to invest in.

– Availability of developed road and water transport: The presence of better

means of transport has contributed to the successful forestry industry in

Gabon. There is a network of improved roads, a well-developed railway system

and water transport. These enable penetrations into the remote interior areas

hence the exploitation of virgin wood enriched areas.

13.3.2: Forestry industry in Scandinavia

The Scandinavian region is geographically located between 550 and 70° north

latitudes. This region includes Sweden, Finland and Norway. The dominating forests

are: taiga, coniferous, boreal and temperate forests. This area is known for its wellorganized and developed forestry industry. The forest exploitation programs are

well organized with high respect for sustainable forest management. The exports

and revenues collected or earned from forestry support greatly the economies of

the three countries. The lumbering sector in this region is highly mechanized and

such has helped in developing the forestry sector.

Sweden is the wealthiest country in forestry exploitation among the Scandinavia

countries. It comes second after Canada. Sweden competes with Canada for world

leadership in the export of wood pulp and is the world’s leading exporter of cellulose.

Factors favouring forestry industry in Scandinavian region

The highly advanced and developed forestry industry of Scandinavia is attributed

to favourable factors that have made it to happen. These are outlined here under:

– Forests found in the region appear in pure stands: This is the characteristic of

temperate and coniferous forests. This occurrence supports forest exploitation

operations.

– The soils of the Scandinavian region are infertile and do not support

agriculture: This has left the vast lands of the region to be under forests. It has

reduced the competition that would otherwise be between the two sectors.– Most tree species that grow in this region mature faster: this ensures a

steady supply of forest products.

– Favourable climatic conditions allow the growth of temperate and coniferous

forests.

– The Scandinavian region has been politically stable ever since after World

War II. This situation has made the region attractive to many local and foreign

investors. The economies of the countries in the region are stable.

– The region is characterized by a mountainous relief that is reshaped by

glaciation. The rugged nature of the region discouraged other economic

activities but favoured the growth of forests. This hindered the settlements in

most areas, and thus reducing the risk of encroaching on the forests, due to

low population densities.

– There is high investment by both the local and foreign companies. These

companies have provided a lot of capitals into the sector. They have introduced

advanced technology which has reshaped the quality and standards of the

lumbering operation.

– • The presence of reliable and dependable marketsboth locally and

internationally: The markets for the forest products in the region include

countries such as Italy, Germany and the USA. The region has been able to

capture these markets due to its high-quality products. Those products include

paper and pulp, sawn wood, veneer, plywood, cardboards and timber.

– The availability of advanced technology that has eased the exploitation of

forests in the Scandinavian region. This has enabled lumbermen to use better

methods of felling, dragging and processing the forest products.

– The presence of many rivers and inland water bodies that facilitate easy

transportation of the forest products. The Baltic Sea and Gulf of Bothnia all

provide cheap water transport that assist in the transportation of logs, timber

and other related forest products.

– The governments of the individual countries in the Scandinavian region

have designed and implemented supporting policies. These policies have

supported proper and sustainable utilisation of forests to address the socioeconomic challenges faced by the masses.

– There is a variety of tree species of softwood nature: These include Scots

pine, Norway spruce, Fir and Larch. These trees yield softwood, a fact that has

supported the growth and development of the forest industry in the region.

– Steady supply of cheap labour: The companies engaged in the forest industry

have access to labour that is provided by the local population. The high influx

of refugees from Asia and the Arab stream such as Assyria and Libya have filled

the gap in the labour supply.

– The presence and availability of cheap hydro-power: This has also

contributed to the exploitation of forests. The presence of various rivers in

the rugged areas of the Scandinavian region creates excellent sites for the

generation of hydroelectricity. They feed the processing of plants with enough

power.

13.3.3: Forestry in British Columbia

British Columbia is one of the provinces of Canada. It is located in the western part

of the country. This state has placed Canada high in forestry. The relief of British

Columbia is rugged and mountainous in nature, with thin soil that hardly supports

agriculture it left no other option for the state apart from forestry.

An average of two thirds of the province is under forest cover. The prevailing forests

include coniferous, deciduous and mixed evergreen forests. Strict management

laws have been enacted to ensure that these forests are maintained and exploited

in the most economical ways possible.

The coniferous forests cover 96% of the total forested land of British Columbia. These

forests have a variety of tree species which include; Spruce, Douglas fir, Oak, Aspen

and Red cider. The forested areas of British Columbia are: Fort Nelson region, Victoria

Island, Fort St. John, Southern Lowlands, Central interior, Prince George.

Factors favouring forestry industry in British Columbia

– The following are factors that have favoured the development of the forest

industry in British Columbia:

– The relief of British Columbia is rugged and mountainous. This has discouraged

agriculture and other land use. The only option is forestry since trees can do

well in such areas.

– The presence of infertile soils that do not support agriculture but support the

growth of trees hence, favouring forestry.

– British Columbia is blessed with snow that feeds various rivers originating from

the upper slopes. These have become the convenient means of transportation

of logs to the collecting centres.

– British Columbia receives heavy rainfall throughout the year. This has

supported the growth of trees and forests.

– The presence of extensive land that is under forests has also played a key role

in the development of the industry.

– British Columbia is gifted with a variety of tree species. They include Douglas

fir, Red cedar, Western Hemback, Oak and pole pine.

– The area has a cool temperate climate that is necessary for the growth of

temperate and coniferous forests.

– British Columbia is sparsely populated. The low population has made large

tracts of land to be under forests.

– The forests of British Columbia are characterised by large areas with single tree

species. This makes it easy to fell trees and it facilitates the forest exploitation

methods such as “patching.”

– There is abundant supply of hydroelectric power in British Columbia. This

has played a significant role in supporting the extraction, transporting and

processing of forestry products. The sawmills are well supplied with reliable

power. This is attributed to a number of rivers such as River Columbia and River

Fraser.

– The coastal areas of British Columbia are associated with numerous winds.

These also ease the transportation of logs from the mainland to the collection

centres at the coast.

– The coniferous forests of British Columbia have limited undergrowth. This

eases the exploitation of forests hence saving time and making the whole

operation less tedious.

– British Columbia has a strategic position next to the coast. This makes it easy to

accessing the foreign markets. Several ports have developed along the coast

providing excellent physical and geographical advantages.

– Trees appear in pure stands. This makes the felling process easy and less time

consuming, enabling a steady supply of the forestry products such as logs.

– There are less destructive winds in the state of British Columbia. This has offered

an ample environment for trees to grow without being bent or destroyed by

the forces of nature.

– The trees grown mature fast within a short period when compared with those

of the equatorial region.

– There is sufficient capital needed to meet the operational demands of forestry

industry. The investors are able to pay high skilled labour, purchase equipment

and other related services.

– There is a steady supply of labour. This is provided by the locals and foreign

immigrants from all over the world.

– There is a ready and accessible market for the products from the British

Columbia’s forest industry. This is mainly provided by the local companies that

are dependent on the forests for raw materials. There is also a wide external

market for lumbering products e.g. USA, Japan, China, India and Britain. All

these have supported the growth and development of forestry in British

Columbia.

– There are favourable and supportive government policies in relation to the

forestry industry. The government of Canada subsidises the sector, provides

technical assistance and designs good conservation programs that all aim at

the sustainable utilisation of forests.

– There are several hydro-electric power stations that have been set up to

support the industries that relate directly or indirectly to forestry operations

and products.

– British Columbia has an excellent transport network, ranging from railway

transport, road transport to water transport. These provide an enabling

environment for forestry to thrive.

– There is high industrialisation in Canada. Industries such as those that engage

in the production of newsprint, pulp and paper, paper boards and furniture

all support the forestry. There are other industries that manufacture inputs

such as powered saws, bulldozers and other assorted equipment that are of a

significant role in the industry.

– British Columbia and Canada in general is politically stable. This has resulted

into a safe environment that has attracted many investors.

– The use of better methods of lumbering has favoured the existence of

sustainable utilisation of forests. 

– The presence and availability of advanced technology has favoured the

mechanisation of forestry operations. There is a wide use of modern equipment

that has eased the work.

– There is and has been a long tradition and Canadian culture of growing forests

since the 16th century. This has created a people who cherish and value forests

and are aware of how to sustainably utilise forests. This has reduced most of

the challenges since solutions are always available.

– There has been and there is still continuous research and studies in forestry.

This has resulted in the introduction of new tree species that mature quickly

and with high quality products.

– The presence of various local and foreign investors has contributed the capitals

that have enabled the development of forestry.

Application activity 13.3

1. For either Gabon or British Columbia, give a brief description of the state of

forestry in the country.

2. Examine the factors that have favoured the development of the forestry

industry in the Scandinavian region.

End unit assessment

1. Suppose you are staying near a forested area:

a. Using local examples show how you and your community would

benefit from the forest.

b. Assess the impact of forests and forest exploitation on sustainable

development.

2. As a student who has studied and understood the topic of forestry, draw a

program that can enable your community to utilize the forest resources in a

sustainable manner.