Forest Ecosystem

Sustainability and conservation of natural resources forest ecosystem

Forest ecosystems are areas dominated by trees and contain various natural resources these resources are important and hence have to be sustained and conserved. There are several management practices that can be applied in this ecosystem for the continued sustenance and conservation of these resources. An example of a management practice is the creation of forest protected areas. Conservation of the natural forest ecosystem is the reason for existence of protected forest areas. Protected forest area comprises of a wide variety of initiates for management of the natural resources that are found in the forest ecosystems. The protected areas have strict legal status meaning that the ecosystems are under the government and hence no one has the ability to exploit the natural resources in the ecosystems and hence they are conserved and sustained. However within the protected areas there is creation of buffer zones that will act as physical barriers to the protected areas which support the protected area and at the same time provide local people with benefits that will ensure that there is no encroachment of the protected areas. Another practice is forest management that incorporates the harvesting of forest products under a framework that ensures there is sustainable management which aims to conserve biodiversity and benefiting local people at the same time.

2) Renewable and non-renewable energy sources in forest ecosystem.

Energy sources from forest ecosystems can either be renewable or nonrenewable. The use of either energy resources has benefits and risks to the forest ecosystem. The forest ecosystem provides various nonrenewable energy sources. Nonrenewable energy resources will eventually be depleted over neither time, since they are nor renewable there is eventual need for development of sources that will meet the increasing energy demands. These include fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil that are from biological decomposition of organic matter that is dead found in the forest ecosystems. The use of these sources of energy has a disadvantage in that it can lead to pollution of water and air that can be harmful to animals and plants that are found in the forest ecosystem. The use of fossil fuel is beneficial due to the fact that they are readily available hence they are a cheap energy source (Callahan, 2011). However even if they are readily available with time the reserves will be depleted and this will pose as a challenge not only to the forest ecosystem but also the energy demands. On the other hand the use of renewable source of energy is beneficial since they are environmental friendly. The renewable energy sources also have some risks such as the use of hydro projects can affect forest ecosystems if their impacts are not mitigated.

3) Species extinction

In the forest ecosystems plants and animals are increasingly extinct in the present times. This can be attributed to both natural and man-made reasons. The major cause of this extinction is the destruction of the forest ecosystem for instance through clearing of forest land for cultivation, urbanization or harvest wood. This will lead to shrinking of habitats for both animals and plants in the ecosystem (Hogan, 2010), The existence of biodiversity is very important in a community .if there is more biodiversity it means that future generations will enjoy this biodiversity but if there is less it means that they will not have a chance of seeing some species that were in existence.

4) Alternative energy resources

There are various ways that the government can encourage the use of alternative energy resources that will not deplete the forest ecosystem. Renewable sources of energy are still developing technologically and therefore they have cost structures that range from upfront costs that are high and operational costs. The government can offer financial incentives for manufacturing, purchasing as well as the installation of the alternative systems of energy source. This will encourage people to venture into this alternative energy sources. The use of these resources will have an impact on the economic and social environment. On the economy more and more people will venture into the alternative system. The society will have found a solution to pollution problems from nonrenewable energy sources.

References

Hogan, M.C. (2010).Causes of extinction. Retrieved March 18, 2013 from http://www.eoearth.org/article/Causes_of_extinction?topic=58074

Callahan, R.(2011). Pros & Cons of Nonrenewable Energy Sources.Retrieved march 18,2013 from http://www.livestrong.com/article/204578-pros-cons-of-nonrenewable-energy-sources/