Did you think forests were that important?
Especially when we look at the people living in big cities, we see that they throw themselves into forest areas. Because a person who is in the forest area finds peace and tranquility.Since forests are not only used for breathing, but also as fuel, they are used in life. The production of these substances also provides a source of livelihood. People have to work and earn money in order to survive, and money is seen as a serious income because it is the source of life.
Every creature in the forest ecosystem, whether visible or not, whether it is a giant tree or a bacterium on an invisible scale, is an indispensable part of forests. In short, forests express a living, multiplying dynamic phenomenon. Forests are an economic resource besides providing health and aesthetic contributions to humanity. Forests, which were a source of daily needs for people in the beginning, have now become an indispensable element in every aspect of life in the modern age. Forests began to stand out not only as a material element, but also as an aesthetic phenomenon.
What are the Benefits of Forests?
Use as Fuel (Heating Product)
The first use of the forest was the use of trees as wood. Forest products used as a means of heating have now become much more important than this feature.
Use as a Furniture Product
forest products; It is known that as timber, it is not only the production of table and chair cabinets, but also has the possibility of using more than two thousand. Researches on the technological properties of timber show that the ways and possibilities of utilizing timber will increase.
Use as Paper Products
The use of forest products as raw material for books and magazines in printing and publishing products is a very important element from the past to the present.
As a food product
Forests resin, tannin, sweetgum oil, bay leaf, laurel oil, mushrooms, pine nut, carob (carob), chestnut, somak, buckthorn, mahaleb, tragacanth (geven), licorice root, licorice extract, thyme, linden flower, sage , menengiƧ, salep etc. It is the greatest natural resource that mankind has benefited from, with an incalculable number of products.
Forest Protects and Regulates Water Availability
Important findings have been reported that forests increase precipitation. It gives the water that the trees take from the soil with their roots to the atmosphere with their leaves. As a result, the humidity in the air increases. An oak tree has the ability to release 570 liters of water per day, on average, to the atmosphere in this way (transpiration). Forests also have an aspect that improves the quality of water. Forests not only ensure the regularity of the existence of water, but also the cleanliness of these waters.
Climate and Forest
There is a bidirectional relationship between forests and climate. This means that, as opposed to the effects of the forest on the climate, the climate has the effects on the forest. Climate is an important factor on the structure of forest ecosystems. However, the types and characteristics of forests vary depending on the climate, region and soil conditions in their distribution regions.
It is the living environment of living things.
The existence of living things that are part of forests is important. As a factor that enables these creatures to live and develop, forests should be considered as a part of the dynamic elements of life and as a whole due to their ecosystem.
Forests are necessary against erosion and landslides
Forests have protective properties against soil movements such as soil loss and landslides.
Forest is a Source of Oxygen
Forests absorb air pollution and filter dust. As an example, 1 hectare of pine forest filters 30-40 tons of dust, 32 tons of spruce forest and 68 tons of beech forest.
In a study on the oxygen production efficiency of forests, it was determined that coniferous forests produce 30 tons, broad-leaved forests 16 tons, and agricultural cultures 3-10 tons of oxygen per hectare.
Aesthetic phenomenon
Forests play a very important role with their contribution to the environment and natural beauty. It is not even possible to compare deforested areas with those with abundant forests.
31% of the land on earth is covered with forests
An advanced pine tree could convert carbon dioxide given into the air by 40 people into oxygen in an hour.
Forests are also called the lungs of the world.
One hectare of coniferous forest produces 30 tons of oxygen per year, and broad-leaved forest produces 16 tons of oxygen per year.
We must take good care of the forests!
As you can see, the benefits of forests are endless. So, what can we do to keep forests alive and develop them?
First, a procedure called rejuvenation was performed. These aging trees were removed when the time came, and the seeds spilled from them were planted again in the ground and new saplings were obtained.
Maintenance was another important item. Pruning the branches of trees that prevent each other from growing, removing trees with roots that are too close were some of the maintenance operations.
Afforestation, on the other hand, is a practice done by planting saplings in the arid, treeless areas of the forests.