The ecosystems found within the United States include forests, deserts, and mountains among others. Forests are among the most important ecosystem as they are spread out across the whole country. They are owned by both private entities and the local, state or federal governments. Globally, the U.S. is ranked the forth country with the largest forest cover which makes up 8% of the world’s forest (Tidwell, 2016). They include temperate rainforests, tropical forests as well as the pine forests. However, the recent years have seen a decrease in the forest cover due to various factors like climatic conditions and deforestation resulting in negative effects including economic losses and harsh weather patterns. It is therefore important to undertake forest restoration initiatives in order to prevent the adverse effects of deforestation.
Currently, approximately 304 million acres of land area in the U.S. is covered by forests (Tidwell, 2016). Furthermore, 56% of these forests are privately owned. Consequently, they are subject to the laws that govern forestry at the state level under the supervision of forestry state agencies. Generally, the mandate of the federal government is to provide technical and financial support to the private owners through the U.S. Forest Service (Tidwell, 2016). Obviously, they are unable to intervene in situations of forest degradation and heavily rely on state laws to prevent the same. This has led to widespread deforestation across the country.
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In an effort to address this, the government has set aside land for forest plantations in order to increase the forest cover. It also works with forestry agencies across the states in managing both the private and public forests. While this has led to a slight improvement in the forest cover, there are other threats that are emerging. Tidwell (2016) observed that climate change has led to weather conditions that threaten the indigenous trees in an area. For instance, Alaska yellow cedar is at risk of extinction due to the melting of ice in the area following periods of droughts. When this occurs, the roots are exposed to direct sunlight leading to drying up of these trees. Droughts have also led to drying up of water sources limiting the availability of water that is necessary for the growth of trees.
Additionally, they have led to insect infestations where they spread diseases to the trees leading to their death. In California, massive bark beetle infestations have led to the death of 66 million trees (Tidwell, 2016). Moreover, prolonged drought periods have resulted in wildfires that spread quickly and widely due to the low moisture content in the trees. The frequency of wildfires has also increased because of frequent drought occurrence which also reduces the forest cover. Tidwell (2016) stated that 360,000 hectares of forest land in Texas had experienced fire since 2000. Human encroachment also threatens forest cover in the U.S. because forest areas are cleared to create human settlements. This poses a risk to the forests as they engage in activities that threaten the forest cover. According to Tidwell (2016) in Hawaii, pig farming among the Polynesians has led to the conversion of native forest land into ranches.
It is important to undertake forest restoration as they provide several benefits. One of the benefits is the environmental friendliness of forest products. For example, during disposal wood degrades and does not produce toxins into the environment when exposed to elements like water and heat. Tidwell (2016) further observed that wood consumes less fuel than cement during processing resulting in less pollution. Forests are also important in the process of air purification. The trees capture pollutants in the air that are harmful to human health. They also ensure that there is sufficient clean water for domestic and commercial use. In the U.S. more than half of the water that people use originates from forests (Tidwell, 2016). Forests also contribute to the country economy. Trees provide habitats for animals and physical features like rivers which are tourist attractions. People pay to visit these sites contributing positively to the economy. The tourism industry also offers employment opportunities because people are employed as tour guides and hotel staff among others, therefore. Additionally, the sale of wood products like furniture and even energy generates income for the entrepreneurs.
Forest destructions occur due to many factors including wildfires, floods, and deforestation. However, forests are capable of restoring themselves through various methods. Some trees regenerate themselves by producing new sprouts after destruction. Mullen (2017) observed that the dormant buds survive forest fires as they are hidden underground. Additionally, the nutrients which are stored in the roots quicken the sprouting of new trees. They can also grow from mature seeds that withstand these disasters and are dispersed to the forest ground through various methods. In cases of forest fires, some seeds such as Coffeeberry break their dormancy resulting in new growths when they fall (Mullen, 2017). Some seeds can also be dispersed through wind, animals, and birds.
Forest natural regeneration processes can be slow and take a long time in their restoration. Human beings can enhance this process by improving the conditions that favor the growth of trees. The first method is through the prevention of wildfires. According to Reuben & Buckingham (2015), the U.S. government initiated the thinning and burning method in twenty-three project areas including Central Oregon. This involves the removal of trees which are densely concentrated in an area, and a mild fire is lit to burn the under bush and litter below the trees.
Consequently, this method has resulted in an open forest which supports greater plant diversity. Furthermore, the burnt plants produce nutrients which improve the growth of trees in the forest. Another intervention that has been adopted is the creation of water shades along water bodies like rivers. For instance, Malheur National Forest in Oregon uses beavers to turn streams into wetlands (Reuben & Buckingham, 2015). The Beavers try to avoid the sound of flowing water and therefore re-channel rivers by building dams which slow the water flow leading to the creation of watersheds. They retain water during dry periods which ensures that the trees have access to water and therefore do not dry up.
Also, uprooting of non-native tree species can be used to ensure that the native and important tree species in a forest are retained. For example, in an effort to restore the growth of Aspen trees, various stakeholders in Eastern Oregon have propagated seedlings from root cuttings and transplanted them in the forests. Some trees that pose a threat to the Aspen trees such as pines have been uprooted in order to allow them more water, light, and nutrients to expand (Reuben & Buckingham, 2015). This has led to an increase in the number of Aspen trees which provide shelter and food for various plants and animals.
In conclusion, forests are an important part of the American ecosystem. The American forest cover is the fourth largest in the world. However, the forest cover has been reducing due to various reasons including deforestation and droughts among others. It is important to restore these forests as they provide economic, environmental and social benefits. While the forests can restore themselves through natural regeneration, human beings can also assist in this process. Some of the interventions include the creation of watersheds, thinning of excess trees, thinning of undesired tree species and burning of forest undergrowth.
References
Mullen, Luba. “How Trees Survive and Thrive After A fire.” National Forest Foundation , 2016, www.nationalforests.org/our-forests/your-national-forests-magazine/how-trees-survive-and-thrive-after-a-fire . Accessed 9 Aug. 2018
Reuben, Aaron, and Kathleen Buckingham. “Forest Landscape Restoration is More Than Planting Trees-Three Case Studies from the United States.” IUCN, 24 June 2015, www.iucn.org/content/forest-landscape-restoration-more-planting-trees-three-case-studies-united-states . Accessed 9 Aug. 2018
Tidwell us forest service, Tom. “State of forests and forestry in the United States.” World conservation congress, 4 Sept. 2016, Honolulu Speech
