Why is Forest Biodiversity Important

NORTHAMPTON MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 20,23 / Rayonier:

Biodiversity plays an important role in healthy forests and the overall health of the environment. This article will discuss what forest biodiversity means and how Rayonier, a forestry company, can protect and promote it.

Although we’re well-known for the products that our trees can produce one day, did you also know that timber companies play a crucial role in biodiversity?

Our decision-making is based on biodiversity. This includes the tree species we select for our forests, the ecosystems we preserve, and the threatened and endangered species that we protect.

What is Forest Biodiversity and how can it be used?

Biodiversity is simply the diversity of animal and plant species found in a particular area. The more diverse and healthy native species found in an ecosystem, then the better. A forest that is healthy provides shelter, food, and clean air for many species.

The biodiversity of a forest includes everything, from the earthworms, bugs, and land animals that live in the soil to the squirrels, birds, and birds found in the trees. These species are called “fauna” in scientific terms. “Flora” is also a scientific term for plant species. Biodiversity can also be called “fauna”. This includes both the trees and the other species of plants that live in the forest, like flowers, berry bushes, and fungi such as mushrooms.

What is Forest Biodiversity?

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the forests of the world are home to the majority of wildlife. They house 80% of the world’s amphibian species and 75% of the bird species. State of the World’s Forests report. According to the report, 31 percent of the world’s land area is forest.

Not all species can live together in the same forest. Habitats can be created by many factors, including tree species, climate, terrain, tree ages, tree shade, water resources and many other factors. For example, a species that thrives in a pine forest with cold temperatures would not be able to survive in a rainforest. There can be multiple forest types within one region that support different species of plant and animal species. Rayonier’s Southeast property may have upland forests with sandy soils and support one species of plant and animal species. Low-lying wetlands could support a different group.

Is there Biodiversity within Commercial Forests?

Companies that manage commercial forests sustainably in a well-planned manner, also called “working forests”, support a wide range of animal and plant species as the trees grow. A website was created. biodiversity.rayonier.comYou can visit our forest and view some of the species living among them in our.

Our forests have been third-party certified using the highest sustainability standards in the industry, including the Sustainable Forestry Initiative In the U.S. Forest Stewardship Council And Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification in New Zealand. These standards are voluntary and we agree to comply with them to protect the environment and species in the ecosystems that we manage while our trees grow. To ensure that we meet the standards, auditors regularly inspect our forests and interview employees.

For example, to preserve biodiversity in the U.S. we only plant trees species that are native in the area where they are being grown. We ensure that waterways are protected and that chemical treatments are not used in these areas. We protect and locate the habitats of endangered species such as bald eagles and northern spotted Owls.

We manage our harvests so that we have different forest ages in every region. This is good for biodiversity as different forest ages support different species. Open, sunny young forests are a good place for plants such as berry bushes, which provide food for pollinators and grazing animals. Shaded, older forests provide shelter and food for tree-dwelling animals and plants like pinecones. Our business benefits from the diversity of forest ages. It ensures that we have a sustainable supply for future generations. We replant trees from the same forest every year after we have harvested it.

We are a responsible steward of land and do not manage all our land for timber production. The United States has a third of its land as wetlands. We choose to preserve these wetlands rather than actively manage them for timber production.

What Role Do Trees Play in Forest Biodiversity?

Trees are a key component of forest biodiversity and act as an anchor for the ecosystem. Some of the important roles that trees play in forest diversity include:

1. Stabilizing soil. Trees are strong and robust, with extensive roots that prevent soil erosion and provide a healthy growth medium for plant life. Ground-dwelling animals need to dig their burrows in soils. The anchoring power of trees on soils protects water systems against sedimentation. This is when soils are contaminated with other materials.

2. Protecting the water supply. The natural filtration system of water seeping into the ground from rainfall is another benefit to trees. This helps to replenish underground water sources like aquifers and allows the water naturally to make its way into streams. This provides clean water for humans and aquatic wildlife.

3. Protecting air quality. Protecting air quality is a crucial part of the role played by trees and the soils that they keep in place. When a tree is growing and undergoes photosynthesis it absorbs excess carbon dioxide from the air. The carbon is then distributed to the tree and the soil surrounding it. For the rest of their lives, the tree will store and hold that carbon. In the case of timber trees, the products made from that tree will also store carbon. Find out more about carbon storage and capture. watching our carbon video here.

4. Shade and shelter. Trees, as the largest species of forest trees, provide shade and shelter to animals and plants. The forest floor is home to shade-loving plants, fungi, and other plant species. Many animals find shelter in trees, whether they are hiding on the ground or living in the branches.

5. As a food source. Many different species can be fed by trees. The mast produced by hardwoods, such as oak trees’ acorns, is a hallmark of hardwoods. They are a favourite food of animals such as deer. Other species consume the seeds of pinecones, smaller leaves, and fruits from fruit-producing tree. Even dead trees can be a food source for insects: They will burrow into rotting wood and eat it. The woodpeckers will then burrow into the wood and eat them.

What can timber companies do to protect biodiversity?

Companies that use sustainable timber take biodiversity into consideration in all aspects of forestry.

To protect critical habitats and watercourses, we use Best Management Practices (or BMPs). We also create large buffer zones around watercourses, to ensure that chemical applications and harvesting are prohibited. Rayonier alone protects approximately 12,000 miles of waterways, and 1,000,000 acres of wetlands in the United States.

Our foresters have been specially trained to recognize and protect the habitats of endangered species. Protecting the burrow of a gopher tortoise is a priority when a forester works near its home in the U.S. South. To protect tortoise nest burrows we will hand-plant rather than machine-plant. We will mark active burrows before we plant trees in the vicinity of a gopher tortoise’s home to make sure heavy equipment is not near them. Our logging contractors will also be trained to recognize and protect burrows.

Similar protections are in place for key species. As long as the nests of bald eagles are still in existence, a boundary line is established to protect them. To protect the salmon population, we replace culverts or bridges that are too small to allow for natural water flow in the Pacific Northwest. Alabama’s Red Hills salamander is also protected by a protective zone around steep cliff sides.

Why Forest Biodiversity is important in Commercial Forests

Although commercial forestry companies grow trees for human consumption, it is true that we also play an important role in protecting forest biodiversity. According to the Forestry Commission of the United States, over half (or 514 million acres) of the forests in America are actually working forests. National Council for Air and Stream Improvement.

Older forests dominate nonworking forests, such as those in state or national parks. Working forests, due to their “mosaic”, of forest ages provide habitats for species that depend on younger and more open forests, as well as older forests near them.

Because of the vast amount of land owned by commercial forest landowners, we can create extensive and continuous wildlife corridors. This buffer zone around waterways is especially important for larger animals that need to be able to roam in the way nature intended.

All of these reasons are why we are proud to help protect biodiversity in forests across the U.S.A., New Zealand and other parts of the world.

Rayonier Biodiversity
Discover the wildlife and plantlife in our forests through an immersive digital experience.

Rayonier forest floor: A nest containing robin eggs is ready for hatching. All photos in this article were taken in Rayonier forest.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Rayonier on 3blmedia.com.

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SOURCE: Rayonier

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