Journal of Ecology and Conservation

Forest Conservation

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Forest conservation works to conserve and manage forest ecosystems sustainably, which are of utmost importance to biodiversity, climate, and provision of resources such as timber and clean water. Forests all over the world are threatened by deforestation and degradation, which lead to biodiversity loss and climate change. Reversing this involves reforestation, halting illegal logging, and supporting sustainable forestry practices. Conservation also helps protect indigenous people and wildlife that rely on these ecosystems to survive.

A natural system, the forest can provide a variety of goods and services. Forests produce fuelwood and lumber, provide home for species, including numerous pollinators that are vital to sustainable food production, moderate climate change, supply water, provide non-wood forest products including food and medicine, and support rural lifestyles.

Market and non-market items are found in forests. Products with a market price are considered marketable. With prices ranging from a few hundred dollars per thousand board feet (MBF) to several thousand dollars for a veneer log, timber is the most expensive. Grazing and fodder, specialized crops like berries or mushrooms, usage fees for hunting or recreation, and biomass for the generation of bioenergy are few more. Additionally, forests offer various non-market values that do not now have a market value. Enhancing air and water quality, sequestering carbon, and boosting aesthetics are a few examples of non-market goods.

Among the many ecosystem services that forests offer are air purification, carbon sequestration, water filtration, and mitigation of erosion and flooding. A wide variety of animals, birds, plants, and other species can be found in forests, which constitute the most biodiverse land-based ecosystem. In addition to food and materials, they can offer leisure and educational possibilities.

Tree breeding is the process of improving and managing forest trees genetically by applying concepts from genetics, reproductive biology, and economics. Tree breeding, except for fruit trees, is a relatively new phenomenon compared to the selective breeding of animals, arable crops, and horticultural flowers during the past few centuries.

Transplanting tree seedlings, usually for landscaping, forestry, or land reclamation, is known as tree planting. It is distinct from the slower, less dependable, and less expensive dispersal of tree seeds as well as the arboricultural practice of transplanting larger trees. Long-term benefits of trees include enhancing air quality, reducing the effects of climate change, conserving water, maintaining soil, and providing for animals. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen during photosynthesis.

The process of rebuilding previously existent forests and woods that have been damaged or destroyed is known as reforestation. Deforestation, clearcutting, or wildfires may have caused the previous forest damage. Wood harvesting, mitigating the effects of climate change, and restoring ecosystems and habitats are three key goals of reforestation initiatives. Establishing tree plantations, sometimes known as plantation forests, is one way to reforest. They make up over 131 million hectares globally, or 3% of the world's total forest area and 45% of all planted forest land.

As the final stage of natural forest succession, forest restoration is defined as "actions to re-instate ecological processes, which accelerate recovery of forest structure, ecological functioning, and biodiversity levels towards those typical of climax forest."