Coastal Forest and Woodlands Research Paper

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Trees cover nothing less than one-third of the earth's surface, and it is estimated that around 3 trillion trees exist worldwide. Forests are found in different climates and locations, and they exist in wet, dry, sweltering and bitterly climates. Each of these forests types have the natural peculiarities that allow them to develop in their respective climates (Motivans). Unfortunately, in the past few decades, there has been an enormous level of commercial activities that have subjected forests all over the world to a dire consequential threat that adversely affect most of the woodlands around the world. Deforestation, road and building constructions form a major part of human threats on the woodlands. Adding to the human activities is the climate change, which has been very devastating on many of the species that inhabit these forests. The threats on these species connote direct danger of extinction to these woodlands, as what makes them thrive in the first place are the species. There is a need to increase the awareness level of the importance of trees to human and animal environments. This paper explores different forests that exist in the world, with the primary focus on the coastal forests and woodlands in different regions and continents of the world, their benefits, and the threats they face.

Apparently, the importance of trees to our environment cannot be overemphasized. The ecosystem preservation depends mainly on the existence of trees and forests, and any society that truly cherishes the beauty of nature and values the serene and atmospheric pleasure which trees provide, will with a high degree of interest, take forest preservation as a topmost priority. Trees, among other things, serve as habitat for mammals, birds, and insects; trees soak up and store carbon; they are very helpful in flood prevention. In addition, they play a significant role in regulating regional climate. They also conserve water and soil regionally and globally, and they are a significant source of natural beauty, which makes them fascinating to behold. Forest trees have been very helpful to the ecosystem and the inhabitants within the woodlands.

Forests are of different types, varying characteristics, and are called different names based on the features that characterize each of them, and sometimes, the locations where they are found. Notable amongst forest types are coastal forests and woodlands. Coastal forests and woodlands “occur in shelter areas along the coast, such as behind dunes and on coast away from the ocean, and behind Maritime Forests (“Coastal Forest/Woodland”). Just as every other form of forest, coastal forests and woodlands have their characteristics. They are known for their medley of vegetation which includes evergreen forest, scrub forest, Brachystegia woodland, and dry forest. During summers, the coastal forests and woodlands are usually hot and dry, and are known to be cool and moist in winters, these are months which most precipitation in these forests arrive. Geographically, the Mediterranean, south-central and southwestern Australia, the Chilean matorral, Mediterranean ecoregions, and the fynbos of southern Africa, are the regions where coastal forests and woodlands can be found (“Mediterranean Forests”). They are known for their array of species which include white pan forest and oak hemlock, and virtually all kinds of animals to thrive there.

Although in different locations, and thousands of miles apart in most cases, however, coastal forests and woodlands have a lot of things in common. Looking at the ones found in Southern Africa, North California, and all the way to Alaska, and every other part of the world where they exist, many glaring similarities can be drawn. Southern African coastal forests and woodlands, for instance, are found on the shore of the Southern part of the African continent. One of them is the South Africa Eastern shore, which is known as KwaZulu-Cape Coastal Forest Mosaic, it is a mix of forest intermingled by thorveld and runs along the eastern coast of South Africa. It embodies the distribution for tropical faunas and florals in African continent (“Southern Africa Eastern Shore”). Another coastal forest in the region is The Mozambican Coastal Zone, which extends over 2700 km. The ecoregion is known for its array of ecosystems, both in terrestrial and marine. It is made up a vast plain that represents 44% of the South African country, and the remainder of it (43% and 13%), being plateau and Montana regions respectively (João. ). The Northern California Forests ecorigion, United States of America, is a part of the coast of temperate rainforest in the Washington and Oregon coasts. It is known to have some of the tallest, biggest and oldest trees in the world.

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Many of the trees in this ecoregion have been existing for over 2000 years, and some of them are over 300 feet in height. Also, in the United States of America is Alaska coastal forests ecoregion. The Southeastern Alaska coastal forest is located along Alaska’s panhandle between the Canadian Border and Yakutat Bay. It embodies over 1,000 islands and over 18,000 mi (30,000 km) of marine shoreline. A larger part of the region contains an exceptional assemblage of a coastal watershed that plays a vital role in the preservation of the fish and other species in the ecoregion (Schoen & Dovichin).

Obviously, the coastal forests in South Africa, Northern California all the way till Alaska are called coastal forests based on the similar features that exist between these different ecoregions despite being thousands of miles apart. Some of the similarities include the height of the trees, the climate, and their habitats. For instance, while the heights of trees in coastal forests varies, they are known to be usually taller than those in Maritime Forests, and not as tall as the ones found on further inland. They are also known to be habitat for associated fauna, which makes it habitable for any species of animal. Also, Coastal forests and woodlands are similarly found in sheltered areas along the coast, they can be found on slope shores away from oceans, behind the dunes, and sometimes behind Maritime Forest. Their climate is different from the inland area, as they are warmer during winters, cooler during summer, and have moisture, when compared to the inland area (“Coastal Forest/Woodland”).

However, despite their similarities in many aspects, these ecoregions have their unique features which distinctly distinguish them one from another. For instance, the South Africa coastal forest ecoregions have plants that are not commonly found in other coastal woodlands. The Tongaland-Pondoland ecoregion also has three related species that are confined within the Mosaic region; they are Atalaya, Alberta, and Protorhus. Cassine spp. and Eugena spp. are some other species, which though, are found in many other regions in Africa, but are highly concentrated in this ecoregion. In addition to this, in South African coastal forests, there seem to be a larger proportion of higher latitudes species. Some of these species are Dahlgrenodendron natalensis, Rhynchocalyx lawsonioides and Rinorea dematiosa. In the north Pacific, however, coastal Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis)-hemlock (Tsuga spp) is the predominant forest type in the region. Notable also among its distinguishing features of South African forests and woodland ecoregions are also highly abundant in mammalian species, having around 40 Insectivores represented, among which are 23 bat species. The Lagomorpha (hares and rabbits) and Rodentia are as well represented mainly in the region. Less represented in the Tongaland-Pondoland ecoregion are Ungulates and Primates, with these creatures having just three and nine species respectively. Carnivores are notably represented having around 22 species. The thick-tailed bushbaby (Galago crassicaudatus) and Samango monkeys (Cercopithecus albogularis) are other mammals inhabiting the ecoregion. The leopard, caracal, the black-back jackal are some other animals here as well. Primarily confined in the region (south Africa) are some rare bird species. Some of these rare bird species include Knysna turaco (Tauraco corythaix), brown scrub-robin (Cercotrichas signata), Knysna woodpecker (Campethera notata), Knysna scrub-warbler (Bradypterus sylvaticus, VU). Natal diving frog and five other near-endemic amphibians can only be found in this ecoregion (“Southern African Eastern Shore”).

Also, the North Pacific forests and woodlands contains up to one-fourth of the world’s temperate, this outstanding attribute largely contributes to its global recognition and significance. The role played by these forests in carbon storage, which substantially reflects positively on the regional and global climates is another characteristic that is of global prominence. The vast coastline collocates with several streams, dense, and forest, mountainous islands, which is why it is one of the most productive in North America. Old-growth forests, in particular, are critically important fish and wildlife habitat and are characterized by unique structural attributes (e.g., multi-layered canopies, diverse forb and shrub layers, coarse-woody debris, large diameter trees). These characteristics are commonly found in forests that have been in existence for up to 150 years. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forests Service classify this region by the timber volume classes which is between low-volume muskeg (volume class 4) to high-volume and commercially productive forests (volume 7), that commonly occur along low-elevation areas and valley bottoms (“Northern Pacific Coastal”).

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