TEMPERATE FORESTSBy Theresa Kish

Geography

Can be found between 30 - 55 ° latitude Most lie between 40 degrees and 50 degrees latitude Originally covered

In Asia, much of Japan, eastern China, Korea, and eastern Siberia

In western Europe, extended from southern Scandinavia to northwestern Iberia and from the British Isles through eastern Europe

Geography

In North America, found from the Atlantic sea coast to the Great Plains and reappear on the West Coast as temperate coniferous forests that extend from northern California through southeastern Alaska

In the Southern Hemisphere, found in southern Chile, New Zealand, and southern Australia

Climate

May either be coniferous or deciduous Occur where temperatures are not extreme and where

annual precipitation averages anywhere from about 650mm to over 3,000mm

Generally receive more winter precipitation than temperate grasslands

Deciduous trees usually dominate, where the growing season is moist and at least 4 months Though snow fall may be heavy, winters are relatively mild

Climate

Where winters are more severe or summers drier, conifers are more abundant the deciduous trees

Coniferous forests of the Pacific Coast of North America receive most of their precipitation during fall, winter, and spring Are subject to summer drought The few deciduous trees in these forests are largely

restricted to streamside environments, where water remains abundant during the drought-prone growing season

Soils

Usually fertile Most fertile soils develop under deciduous forests, where

they are generally neutral or slightly acidic and rich in both organic matter and inorganic nutrients

Rich soils may develop under coniferous forests but coniferous forests but conifers are also able to grow on poorer and more acidic soil

Nutrient movement with between soil and vegetation tends to be slower and more conservative in the coniferous forest

Soils

Nutrient movement with in deciduous forest is generally more dynamic

Biology

While the diversity of trees found here is lower than that of tropical rain forests, temperate forest biomass can be as great or greater

Like the tropical rain forest, they are vertically stratified Layers of vegetation

Lowest layer/herb layer Shrub layer Layer of shade-tolerant understory trees Finally the canopy formed by the largest trees

Biology

Height of canopy varies from approximately 40m to over 100m

The birds, mammals, and insects make use of all layers of the forest from beneath the forest floor through the canopy

Some of the most important consumers are fungi and bacteria, which, along with a diversity of microscopic invertebrate animals, consume the large quantities of wood stored on the floor of old-growth temperate forests Activities of these organisms recycle nutrients, a process

upon which the health of the entire forest depends

Biology

The 2 largest trees in the world the sequoias of western North America and the giant Eucalyptus trees of southern Australia

Temperate forest of North America, Europe, and Asia still harbor ancient trees that are no less impressive

Human Influences

The 1st human settlements in temperate forests were concentrated along forest margin, usually along rivers and streams

Agriculture was practiced in these clearings Animals and plants products were harvested from the

surrounding forest this was the circumstance:

In Europe and Asia several thousand years ago In North America 5 centuries ago

Threats

Since the most of the ancient forests have been destroyed by clear cutting

Reasons for clear cutting Clear land for farming, building new cities, and expending

the size of existing cities For the trees lumber which was in high demand

The lumber from trees was used to make building, bridges, furniture, paper, heat building, and fuel

Threats

Tokyo, Beijing, Moscow, Warsaw, Berlin, Paris, London, New York, Washington D.C., Boston, Toronto, Chicago, and Seattle are all built on lands that once supported a temperate forest

Few tracts of virgin deciduous forests which once covered the eastern ½ of North America remain

Disparate interests struggle over the remaining 1% to 2% of old growth forests left in western North America

Laws and regulations

Currently there are several laws and regulations for clear cutting

Cutting Practices Laws Chapter 132: Section 40. Declaration of policy of

commonwealth. 132: Section 41. State forestry committee; members; forest

cutting practices and guidelines. Chapter 132: Section 42. Notice of proposed cutting

of forest products; final work order; report to director; appeal of decision of director.

Chapter 132: Section 43. Failure to give notice. Chapter 132: Section 44. Exempted cuttings. Chapter 132: Section 46. License to harvest forest

products. SLASH LAW

Chapter 48: Section 16A. Handling of slash. Chapter 48: Section 17. Disposition of slash cut near

highways. Chapter 48: Section 18. Disposition of slash cut by public

utility companies.