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Forest Ecosystems |
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Forests serve as natural protection against the deterioration of the environment and are a treasure trove of numerous plant and animal species. But they represent ecosystems that have been hit hard by the development processes carried out by humanity.
Forests serve as natural protection against the deterioration of the environment and are a treasure trove of numerous plant and animal species. But they represent ecosystems that have been hit hard by the development processes carried out by humanity.
How much area do forests cover today?
Forests cover about a quarter of the world's land surface, excluding Greenland and Antarctica.
Does this represent a reduction?
Global forest cover has been reduced by 20 percent since pre-agricultural times, and possibly as much as 50 percent.
Less than 40 percent of forests globally are relatively undisturbed by human action. The great majority of forests in the industrial countries, except Canada and Russia, are reported to be in "semi-natural" condition or converted to plantations.
Are tropical forests also under threat?
Tropical deforestation probably exceeds 130,000 square kilometers a year. Many developing countries today rely on timber for export earnings. At the same time, millions of people in tropical countries still depend on forests to meet their every need, particularly for fuel.
What are the main threats to forests?
The greatest threats to forest extent and condition today are conversion to other forms of land use and fragmentation by agriculture, logging, and road construction. Logging and mining roads appear to lead the way in opening up intact forest to pioneer settlement and increases in hunting, poaching, fires, and exposure of flora and fauna to pest outbreaks and invasive species.
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