Forest functions and ecosystem services
A forest function is something a forest does. An ecosystem service is a function that helps people. There are four groups.
- Provisioning (gives things): timber, firewood, food, medicine plants, fresh water.
- Regulating (keeps balance): holds rain and cuts floods, stops soil loss, stores carbon, cools air, cleans air.
- Cultural (mind and society): recreation, beauty, learning, sacred groves and traditions.
- Supporting (base for the rest): soil making, nutrient cycling, homes for wildlife.
These jobs are multiple functions. One forest can do many, but a place cannot do every job at full strength. More timber cutting may mean less shelter for wildlife, for example. That is a trade-off.
Target forest types
A target forest type is a picture of the forest we want in future: which trees, how old, how many layers and how they are arranged. We pick it from the goal.
- Protection forest: on steep or fragile land. Deep roots, dense cover, mixed trees, little cutting. Goal: stop landslides, hold soil and water.
- Production forest: on gentle, fertile land. Fast-growing, straight trees in rows, cut in turns and replanted. Goal: timber, pulp, firewood.
- Conservation (nature) forest: mixed kinds and ages, many layers, dead wood left. Goal: protect species and natural processes.
- Recreation forest: open, safe, beautiful with paths and shade. Goal: walking, learning, rest.
Steps to choose: 1) list what people need, 2) study the site (slope, soil, climate), 3) set the main goal, 4) pick the type, 5) plan planting, thinning and cutting, 6) check and change.
Zoning
Zoning means dividing a forest area into zones, each with a main function and its own rules.
- Steep slope, landslide risk or near a water source: protection zone.
- Gentle, fertile, near a road: production zone.
- Rare species, wetlands or old trees: conservation zone.
- Near a village or town with paths: recreation zone.
Good zoning uses a map of slope, soil, water, roads and villages, and the wishes of local people. A zone has a main job but may still have small secondary jobs. Zones are checked and redrawn every few years.
Use only simple relief or sketch maps with no country borders.
Try it: plan a hill forest
In the last 3D step, tap a goal. Which tile suits it best? Then draw your own sketch of a hill with a village, a stream and a road, and mark protection, production, conservation and recreation zones.
Key formulas and definitions
- Services: provisioning, regulating, cultural, supporting
- Plan: goal, then target forest type, then zoning
- Types: protection, production, conservation, recreation
- Multiple functions mean trade-offs
Worked examples
1. Name the service group for each: timber, flood control, picnic, soil making.
Timber is provisioning. Flood control is regulating. Picnic is cultural. Soil making is supporting.
2. A steep hill above a village has frequent landslides. Which target forest type fits?
Protection forest, with dense mixed deep-rooted trees and little cutting, because the main goal is to hold the soil and water.
3. A 100-hectare area is split: 30 protection, 40 production, 20 conservation and the rest recreation. How many hectares are recreation, and what percent of the area is production?
Recreation = 100 - 30 - 40 - 20 = 10 ha. Production is 40 of 100, so 40%.
Common mistakes
- Thinking one forest part can do every job at full strength.
- Mixing up a service group, for example calling carbon storage cultural.
- Zoning without looking at slope and water.
- Using the same tree plan for protection and production areas.