TREES TREES EVERYWHERE!!
Man, I am tired! Today was another eventful day here in the forests of Nova Scotia. In the morning we checked our traps again. (Unfortunately the video I made can't be posted tonight, but I'll try to get it tomorrow!) We spent the rest of the morning scanning 5 10X10 meter plots for scat. As you answered yesterday, there are many reasons scientists research scat, one of them is to get an estimate of what types of animals and how many inhabit a certain area. Other reasons are to study the diets and health of the animals. After lunch we finished clearing a walking trail for future Earthwatch teams to use for access to further research.
Since I’ve been here I’ve been fascinated by the wonderful trees, but was shocked to realize how much the forests have changed over the years. When Europeans first colonized Nova Scotia, logging was a major industry that brought in large amounts of money in for the area. It has continued to be a major industry for Nova Scotia and well as the whole of Canada. Currently logging is one of the Canada’s largest industries. While the monetary advantages to logging proved to be good for Canada’s economy, certain types of cutting have been very detrimental to the forest ecosystems. Before colonization, this land was covered in large Hemlock, White Pine and Norway Pine (Red Pine) trees. Loggers clear cut these trees for making paper and exporting wood to the United Kingdom, the United States and other European countries. Clear cutting is when all of the trees in a certain area are completely cut down. When loggers did this, they didn’t realize how long it would take the trees to grow back and that the Hemlock and Pine need the soil to have a certain amount of acid to grow. Because all of the trees were gone and no longer losing there needles that make the soil acidic, the Hemlock and Pine were not able to grow back. In its place however, secondary forests grew. Trees such as the Balsam Fur, Birch and Spruce now cover much of the forest land. Today, Nova Scotia is the leading Christmas tree exporter for Canada. While clear cutting still exists, there are many programs to try and bring back the native species of trees.
Challenge:
1. Why do you think it is important for trees and plants to grow in their native areas?
2. What tree do you think Nova Scotia exports most during the Christmas season?
3. Nova Scotia has two types of forests deciduous and coniferous, what is the difference between the two? (hint – what types of trees grow in each?)
Since I’ve been here I’ve been fascinated by the wonderful trees, but was shocked to realize how much the forests have changed over the years. When Europeans first colonized Nova Scotia, logging was a major industry that brought in large amounts of money in for the area. It has continued to be a major industry for Nova Scotia and well as the whole of Canada. Currently logging is one of the Canada’s largest industries. While the monetary advantages to logging proved to be good for Canada’s economy, certain types of cutting have been very detrimental to the forest ecosystems. Before colonization, this land was covered in large Hemlock, White Pine and Norway Pine (Red Pine) trees. Loggers clear cut these trees for making paper and exporting wood to the United Kingdom, the United States and other European countries. Clear cutting is when all of the trees in a certain area are completely cut down. When loggers did this, they didn’t realize how long it would take the trees to grow back and that the Hemlock and Pine need the soil to have a certain amount of acid to grow. Because all of the trees were gone and no longer losing there needles that make the soil acidic, the Hemlock and Pine were not able to grow back. In its place however, secondary forests grew. Trees such as the Balsam Fur, Birch and Spruce now cover much of the forest land. Today, Nova Scotia is the leading Christmas tree exporter for Canada. While clear cutting still exists, there are many programs to try and bring back the native species of trees.
Challenge:
1. Why do you think it is important for trees and plants to grow in their native areas?
2. What tree do you think Nova Scotia exports most during the Christmas season?
3. Nova Scotia has two types of forests deciduous and coniferous, what is the difference between the two? (hint – what types of trees grow in each?)
posted by Ms. Messick @ 6:54 PM
1 Comments:
Hey Messick,
I know you have seen alot of trees there so does it look like some of CAs forests?
Alyssa K
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