All flashcards
Flashcard 1: What is the role of mycorrhizal fungi in forests?
Answer: Enhances nutrient uptake for trees. Symbiotic relationship improves tree nutrition and forest health.
Flashcard 2: Which forestry certification ensures sustainable practices?
Answer: FSC certification. Third-party verification system for responsible forest management standards.
Flashcard 3: What is an ecological benefit of sustainable forestry?
Answer: Preservation of biodiversity. Protects species variety and ecosystem functions for future generations.
Flashcard 4: What is a keystone species?
Answer: A species that has a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem. Critical species whose presence maintains entire ecosystem structure and function.
Flashcard 5: What is afforestation?
Answer: Planting trees on land not previously forested. Creates new forests on non-forested land to increase tree cover.
Flashcard 6: Identify a major cause of deforestation.
Answer: Agricultural expansion. Primary driver of global forest loss for crop and pasture development.
Flashcard 7: Identify a method to reduce soil erosion in forests.
Answer: Maintaining ground cover. Vegetation protects soil from water and wind erosion.
Flashcard 8: Name a technique to prevent forest fires.
Answer: Controlled burning. Reduces fuel buildup and prevents catastrophic wildfire damage.
Flashcard 9: What is the main objective of the REDD+ program?
Answer: To reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. International initiative compensating countries for forest conservation efforts.
Flashcard 10: What is a riparian buffer?
Answer: Vegetated area near a stream to protect water quality. Protects waterways from runoff pollution and maintains stream temperature.
Flashcard 11: What is an invasive species?
Answer: A non-native species that harms ecosystems. Outcompetes native species and disrupts natural ecosystem balance.
Flashcard 12: Which term describes the variety of organisms in a forest?
Answer: Biodiversity. Measures ecosystem health through species richness and abundance.
Flashcard 13: What is agroforestry?
Answer: Integrating trees and shrubs into agricultural systems. Combines forestry with farming to create diverse, productive land use systems.
Flashcard 14: Identify a policy that supports sustainable forestry.
Answer: The Lacey Act. U.S. law prohibiting trade in illegal forest products.
Flashcard 15: What does 'multiple-use' forestry mean?
Answer: Managing forests for various purposes like recreation and timber. Balances diverse forest uses including timber, recreation, and conservation.
Flashcard 16: Name a benefit of agroforestry.
Answer: Increases biodiversity and soil health. Trees improve crop yields through nitrogen fixation and erosion control.
Flashcard 17: What role do forests play in the water cycle?
Answer: Regulate water flow and quality. Trees intercept precipitation and maintain groundwater through transpiration.
Flashcard 18: What is the impact of deforestation on the carbon cycle?
Answer: Increases atmospheric CO₂ levels. Trees normally absorb CO₂, so removal releases stored carbon to atmosphere.
Flashcard 19: Name a social benefit of sustainable forestry.
Answer: Supports local communities and economies. Provides jobs and income while maintaining cultural forest connections.
Flashcard 20: What is a forest management plan?
Answer: A document outlining sustainable forestry practices. Strategic blueprint for responsible forest resource management and conservation.
Flashcard 21: Name a tool used in sustainable forest management.
Answer: Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Mapping technology for forest monitoring and management planning.
Flashcard 22: What is ecosystem resilience?
Answer: The ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances. Measures how well ecosystems bounce back from natural or human disturbances.
Flashcard 23: Name a practice that promotes sustainable forestry.
Answer: Reduced impact logging. Minimizes environmental damage during harvesting operations.
Flashcard 24: What is the relationship between forests and climate change?
Answer: Forests mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon. Trees absorb CO₂ and store carbon, reducing greenhouse gas concentrations.
Flashcard 25: Identify a benefit of maintaining forest corridors.
Answer: Facilitates wildlife movement. Connects habitat patches, allowing species migration and gene flow.
Flashcard 26: Which practice helps maintain genetic diversity in forests?
Answer: Selective breeding. Maintains genetic variation to ensure forest adaptation and resilience.
Flashcard 27: What is deforestation?
Answer: The removal of a forest or stand of trees. Complete forest removal for agriculture, urbanization, or other land uses.
Flashcard 28: What is clear-cutting?
Answer: A forestry practice where most or all trees are uniformly cut down. Intensive harvesting method that removes entire forest stands at once.
Flashcard 29: What is the goal of sustainable timber harvesting?
Answer: To balance ecological health and economic needs. Ensures forest productivity while maintaining ecosystem integrity long-term.
Flashcard 30: What is the primary goal of conservation biology?
Answer: To protect and sustain biodiversity. Scientific field focused on preserving species and ecosystem diversity.