Section 1: Gathering Information

The World’s Forests Web-quest Summary Students are asked to access various Web sites and complete the Web-quest Exploration Guide to learn about the world’s forests, including locations, services, uses, human impacts, and the role of sustainable forestry in conserving global forest area. As a culminating project, students create posters and present to the class.

Background The World’s Forests Forests are vital to life on Earth— they provide habitats for a large diversity of mammals, invertebrates, and plant species; green space recreational areas; clean air and water; and many products that we use in our dayto-day lives. Forests also support biodiversity; are vital to the water cycle; prevent erosion; remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through physical or biological processes, such as photosynthesis; and provide subsistence for indigenous cultures and local peoples. Trees are part of our everyday lives as part of our environment and are in the products we use on a daily basis. Even so, we may not be aware of the condition of our global forests, where the world’s forests are located, or that many of them are in danger of deforestation. Deforestation is the cutting, clearing, and removal of forests or related ecosystems so the land can be used for purposes other than natural habitat. The major causes of deforestation are agriculture, mining, logging, oil and gas extraction, cattle ranching, and development. Sustainable Forest Management Sustainable forest management is a global initiative to promote management practices that ensure the long-term

health and vitality of forests. Issues related to sustainability include social justice, economic viability, environmental health, and reduction of global deforestation rates. Defining sustainable forest management can be a difficult task. Instead of one concise definition, sustainable forest management is often described using seven key themes outlined here (FAO, 2008). 1. Extent of Forest Resources: Conservation of significant forest cover, forest types, and trees outside of forests (such as trees within cities and neighborhoods). 2. Biological Diversity: Conservation of diverse forest ecosystems, tree species, and genetic structure. 3. Forest Health and Vitality: Management of unwanted disturbances (such as wildfires, pollution, storm damage, insects, and disease). 4. Productive Functions of Forest Resources: Management of wood and nonwood forest products to meet current needs without compromising options for future generations to manage forests for their needs. 5. Protective Functions of Forest Resources: Maintenance of water quality, soil quality, and functions related to ecosystem conservation.

activity 4 n subjects Science, Social Studies, Language Arts n Key Questions 1. Where are the world’s forests, and how much acreage do they cover? 2. What are the uses of forests? 3. What is sustainable forestry? n Objectives 1. By the end of the activity, students will be able to do the following: 2. Describe services, uses, and products that humans obtain from forests and the limits on these resources (SC.912.L.17.11; SC.912.L.17.19). 3. Explain how humans affect forest health (SC.912.L.17.18; SC.912.L.17.20). 4. Explain sustainable forestry and forest certification (SC.912.L.17.12; SS.912.G.5.5). 5. Synthesize information gathered by creating a poster and presenting this poster to the class (LA.1112.5.2.3). n Materials • Copies of The World’s Forests Student Worksheet:Web-quest Exploration Guide for each student • Computers with Internet access for each student or pair of students • Headphones for each student for video/audio sections n Time Estimate 1 hour

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The American Tree Farm System works “to promote the growing of renewable forest resources on private lands while protecting environmental benefits and increasing public understanding of all benefits of productive forestry” (American Tree Farm System, 2004).

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) program “is based in the premise that responsible environmental behavior and sound business decisions can co-exist to the benefit of landowners, manufacturers, shareholders, customers, the people they serve, the environment, and future generations. The SFI program integrates the perpetual growing and harvesting of trees with the protection of wildlife, plants, soil, water, and air quality” (SFI, 2008). The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) sets standards “to ensure forestry practices are conducted in a way that is environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable” (FSC, 2008).

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The USDA Forest Service Forest Stewardship Program “provides technical assistance, through State forestry agency partnerships, to nonindustrial private forest owners to encourage and enable active long-term forest management” (Forest Stewardship Program, 2008).

Forests provide important ecosystem services, such as groundwater recharge and aquatic habitat.

6. Socio-economic Functions: Management of forests to provide employment and contribute to the economy, while also protecting the cultural, spiritual, and recreational values of forests. 7. Legal, Policy, and Institutional Framework: Creation of fair and equitable governance systems that allow sustainable forest management to occur. Many states publish standards to protect, maintain, or improve water and soil quality and wildlife habitat during forestry activities. Best Management Practices (BMPs) in the Southeastern United States provide landowners with a set of voluntary guidelines for conducting forestry operations while also protecting soil and water quality. These BMPs can help forest landowners maintain healthy, sustainable forests.

Sustainable Forest Management Programs In addition to state BMPs, there are a number of programs available to help landowners implement sustainable forest management plans. By outlining management standards that participants must meet, these programs ensure that forests are managed according to a variety of environmental, social, and economic principles. Independent reviewers determine whether the forests are actually managed appropriately to maintain quality. There are a number of forest management programs in the U.S. For example, the American Tree Farm System and the Forest Stewardship Program provide information and assistance to landowners. In addition, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the Forest Stewardship Council are programs that certify if a forest is sustainably managed.

Florida BMPs For more information on the Florida Division of Forestry’s Best Management Practices visit http://www.fl-dof.com/ forest_management/index.html

Should We Use Wood for Energy? • Section 1 – Activity 4:The World’s Forests Web-quest

Teacher Instructions Preparation 1. Read the Background Information provided at the beginning of this activity and make copies if you plan to assign reading before the activity. Additional, more detailed information is available in the Sustainable Forest Management fact sheet in the Supplemental Reading section. 2. Go through the Web-quest Exploration Guide on your own to familiarize yourself with the topic and activity. 3. Ensure that each Web site link is operational and that the video segments upload correctly. Procedure 1. When students are at computer stations, pass out copies of the Web-quest Exploration Guide and provide them with the web address to open the PDF file from the program Web site (this will enable them to utilize active hyperlinks). Also, pass out headphones. Ask students to wear headphones during video/audio sections of the Web-quest or if headphones are unavailable, ask them to lower or mute the volume. 2. Review instructions with your class and make sure each student completes his or her own worksheet. 3. When students complete the Web-quest, initiate a class discussion using the Discussion Questions found in the Conclusion section. If time is limited, you can do the discussion the following day or assign the questions as student homework. 4. After completing this Web-quest, ask students to create a poster about forests and sustainable forest management using the information they collected about the world’s forests. Students should use graphics or pictures. Encourage students to draw, use magazine clippings or photos, and to be as creative as possible. Students should also cite evidence and resources in the poster text. Posters can be displayed around the classroom, lunchroom, or in school hallways.

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Assessment Suggestions Objective 1: Review student answers to the Web-quest Exploration Guide, parts I,V, and VI. Objective 2: Review student answers to the Web-quest Exploration Guide, parts III-V. Objective 3: Review student answers to the Web-quest Exploration Guide, parts I, II, and IV. Objective 4: Review student answers to the Web-quest Exploration Guide, part VII. Objective 5: Score student posters using the rubric on the following page.

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teacher

Extensions • Show the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ 17minute video, Forests and Climate Change: A Convenient Truth in class. This video provides information on forests’ role in the mitigation of global climate change and the importance of conserving the world’s forests. Available for download or order at: http://www.fao.org/forestry/ publications/en/ (click on Multimedia in the Publications section of the Web site). • Ask students to research the location of forests in their own community. Instruct them to summarize forest area, type, and primary function. • Ask students to go to a hardware store and look for sustainable forest products. Ask students to write a brief report on what they found.

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n Student Poster Rubric: The World’s Forests Web-quest Category

4 Above Standards

3 Meets Standards

2 Approaching Standards

1 Below Standards

Graphics – Originality

Several of the graphics used on the poster reflect an exceptional degree of student creativity in their creation and/or display.

One or two of the graphics used on the poster reflect student creativity in their creation and/or display.

The graphics are made by the student, but are based on the designs or ideas of others.

No graphics made by the student are included.

Content – Accuracy

At least 7 accurate facts are displayed on the poster.

5-6 accurate facts are displayed on the poster.

3-4 accurate facts are displayed on the poster.

Less than 3 accurate facts are displayed on the poster.

Attractiveness The poster is exceptionally attractive in terms of design, layout, and neatness.

The poster is attractive in terms of design, layout, and neatness.

The poster is acceptably attractive though it may be a bit messy.

The poster is distractingly messy or very poorly designed. It is not attractive.

Knowledge Gained

Student can accurately answer all questions related to facts in the poster and processes used to create the poster.

Student can accurately answer most questions related to facts in the poster and processes used to create the poster.

Student can accurately answer about 75% of questions related to facts in the poster and processes used to create the poster.

Student appears to have insufficient knowledge about the facts or processes used in the poster.

Grammar

There are no grammatical mistakes on the poster.

There is 1 grammatical mistake on the poster.

There are 2 grammatical mistakes on the poster.

There are 3 or more grammatical mistakes on the poster.

Resources

• Florida Division of Forestry: http://www.fl-dof.com/ • Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations: http://www.fao.org/forestry/home/en/ • University of Florida Extension Service: Florida Forest Stewardship: http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/extension/florida_forestry_information/planning_ and_assistance/forest_certification_programs.html • University of Florida, IFAS Extension:Trees in Your Life Fact Sheet: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FR077

Should We Use Wood for Energy? • Section 1 – Activity 4:The World’s Forests Web-quest

The World’s Forests

Web-quest Exploration Guide

STUDENT

(1 of 5)

_________________________________________________________________ ________________ ______________ NAME

date

period

Forests play a key role in maintaining the health of the Earth, and they also provide us with many important services and products. This Web-quest Exploration Guide leads you to various Web sites to learn about the world’s forests. Get ready to learn more about forests, why they are important, how human activities affect them, and what we can do to protect them! Follow the instructions and complete the worksheet to turn in to your teacher.

I. What Do You Know About Forests? Go to The World Bank you think! But do you know? Web site: http://youthink.worldbank.org/ multimedia/gallery/forests/slideshow_forests.php Put your headphones on and click Start Slideshow. Answer the following questions: 1. List at least three reasons why global forests are important.

2. Why are trees considered a “renewable resource”?

3. What are some impacts of forest loss?

II. Deforestation Go to the National Geographic Eye in the Sky Web site: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/eye/deforestation/deforestation.html Scroll through the pages by clicking on The Effect, The Phenomena, and The Science and answer the following questions: 1. According to the Web site, what are the major causes of global forest loss?

2. According to the World Resources Institute, what percentage of the Earth’s natural forests have already been destroyed?

3. What are some of the consequences of deforestation?

4. What are some solutions and actions to reduce global deforestation rates?

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STUDENT

The World’s Forests Web-quest Exploration Guide (2 of 5)

III. Global Forest Cover Data Go to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Web site: http://www.fao.org/ forestry/28808/en/ Answer the following questions: 1. What is the global forest area in acres? (Hint: 1 hectare = 2.47 acres)

2. Which countries have more than half of the world’s forest area?

3. In what areas of the world do countries have less than 10% of their total land area in forests?

4. How many countries have more than 50% of their total land area forested?

IV. Forest Area Change Go to the Global Forest Watch Web site: http://www.globalforestwatch.org/english/index.htm Click on “FAQs” on the left side of the screen. Using your mouse, run your cursor across the words Original forest extent, Current forest cover, and Remaining frontier forest and watch how the world map changes. Answer the following questions: 1. What is a frontier forest?

2. Which regions of the world contain most of the remaining frontier forests?

Use the questions and answers on the webpage to find the following information: 1. Using soccer fields for scale, how much of the world’s forests are lost each minute, based on FAO’s global annual estimates?

2. What types of human activities threaten frontier forests?

Go to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Web site: http://www.fao.org/forestry/30515/en/

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Should We Use Wood for Energy? • Section 1 – Activity 4:The World’s Forests Web-quest

The World’s Forests Web-quest Exploration Guide (3 of 5)

STUDENT

Read the facts and figures about deforestation and net forest area change. Answer the following questions: 1. How many acres of the world’s forests are lost to deforestation each year (Hint 1 hectare = 2.47 acres)?

2. Is this rate increasing or slowing? Why?

V. United States Forest Facts Go to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Web site: http://www.fao.org/forestry/ Click on the Countries on the left menu and select the United States from the drop down menu. Click on Summary: forests and the forestry sector from the left menu. Answer the following questions: 1. What percentage of the world’s forest area exists in the United States?

2. How many hectares of forest does the U.S. have? How does this compare to other nations?

3. What country is the largest consumer and producer of forest products?

VI. Forest Products and Services Go to the Idaho Forest Products Commission Web site: http://www.idahoforests.org/wood_you.htm Answer the following questions: 1. What are some of the services that trees provide us?

2. What is wood made of?

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STUDENT

The World’s Forests Web-quest Exploration Guide (4 of 5)

3. List at least 10 products made from trees that you originally did not know came from trees.

VII. What is Sustainable Forest Management? Go to the Forest Encyclopedia Network Web site: http://www.forestencyclopedia.net/ Click on Framework for Achieving Sustainable Forest Management from the left menu. What is sustainable forest management?

Click on each of the components at the bottom of the page and summarize in the following space how each of these contribute to sustainable forest management. Adaptive Forest Management:

International Agreements and Protocols:

Certification Systems:

Go to the United States Environmental Protection Agency Forestry Certification Programs Web site: http://www.epa.gov/nps/forestry-certification.html List the three major forestry certification programs:

Choose one program and click on the link to visit the program’s Web site. Briefly describe this program.

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Should We Use Wood for Energy? • Section 1 – Activity 4:The World’s Forests Web-quest

The World’s Forests Web-quest Exploration Guide (5 of 5)

STUDENT

Discussion Questions

Conclusion

agencies or organizations sponsored the Web sites you collected information 1 What 

Forests are vital to life on Earth—they provide habitats for a large diversity of mammals, invertebrates, and plant species; green space recreational areas; clean air and water; and many products that we use in our day-to-day lives. While trees are part of our everyday lives as part of our environment and in the products we use, we may not be aware of the condition of our global forests. Through this Web-quest, you have learned more about forests worldwide, why they are important, how human activity affects them, and what we can do to protect them. Go through the following discussion questions regarding the information you gathered in this Web-quest and be prepared to share your thoughts with the class.

from and how might that information be biased?

2 Is  the information presented on the Web sites balanced?

3 In  what ways do you personally value forests that are located near your home?

Within your state? Within your country? Around the globe?

are forests a vitally important global resource? 4 Why 

can individuals and families do to reduce carbon emissions? 5 What 

are some of the benefits to forest certification programs? 6 What 

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