Forestry - Class 8 Social Studies Revision Notes

• Types Of Forest
  • Natural forest
    • Categories Of Natural Forest
      • Highland Forest
      • Mangrove Forest
      • Coastal Tropical Forest
      • Tropical Rainforest
      • Hardwood Trees
  • Planted Forest
    • Planted Forest Locations
• Problems Facing Forests
  • Defforestation
    • Effects Of Defforestation
• Soil Conservation Measures

Forestry

• This is the planting and taking care of forests.
• A forest is a group of trees growing together.
• N/B 3% only of kenyan land is under forest.

Types Of Forest

• Natural forest
• Planted forest

Natural forest

• Grows on its own
• Hardwood trees are grown
• They take long time to mature
• Trees are of different species
• Hardwood trees are also called indegenous trees

Hardwood Trees

• Obeche
• Meru oak
• Camphor
• Rosewood
• Ebony
• Mahogany
• Greenheart
• Iroko

Categories Of Natural Forest

• Coastal tropical forest
• Mountain highland forest
• Mangrove forest
• Tropical rainforest

Highland Forest

• Also called mountain forest
• Found in areas with high rainfall
• Found on slopes of mountains ,example:
  1. Mt. Kenya Forest
  2. Mt. Elgon Forest
  3. Aberdare Ranges Forest
  4. Kipkelion
  5. Mau Forest
  6. Kaoyagat Forest
  7. Malava
  8. Ngong Hills

Mangrove Forest

• Found along the salty water in the coast

Coastal Tropical Forest

• Also called lowland rainforest, examples:
  • Arabuko Sokoke
  • Boni
  • Witu

Tropical Rainforest

• covered with tall trees
• a good example is Kakamega Forest and Nandi Hills Forest.

Planted Forest

• Cultivated and developed by man
• Softwood trees are grown
• Softwood are also kwown as exotic trees
• Trees are of the same species
• They mature fast
• Grown in straight rows
• Softwood make papers
• Softwood trees
• Cedar
• Cypress
• Eucalyptus
• Pine
• Wattle tree
• Gravillea
• Spruce

Planted Forest Locations

• Ainamioi -  Kericho County
• Turbo - Uasin Gishu County
• Molo - Nakuru County
• Kaptagat - Nakuru County
• Timboroa - Uasin Gishu
• Londiani - Kericho
• Kinale - Kiambu

Problems Facing Forests

• Pests and diseases
• Defforestation
• Drought
• Forest fire
• Over exploitation by human being
• Government policy of degazettment of forests
• Mismanagement of forests
• Illegal logging
• Damage of wildlife

• NB the main problem facing forestry is clearing for agriculture and settlement.
• Main reason why we preserve natural forests is to protect the rare/indegenous trees.
• Main reason why we presreve forest is to protect water catchment areas.

Defforestation

• This is the illegal cutting down of trees without replacing
• It is the main problem facing forests

Effects Of Defforestation

• Leads to desertification
• Destruction of water catchment areas
• It interferes with the carbon cycle
• Interferes with water cycle
• Leads to soil erosion
• Soil erosion leads to dam siltation
• Dam siltation affects the hep production
• Species of trees become extinct or rare
• Leads to shortage of rainfall

Soil Conservation Measures

• these are ways of protecting,preserving and managing forests.
  
  1. Afforestation
  2. Reafforestation
  3. Agroforestry
  4. Educating people on the importance of forests
  5. Using alternative source of energy
  6. Gazzetment of forests reserves
  7. Putting up electric fence around the forest
  8. Providing tree seedlings
  9. Discourage the use charcoal
  10. Use of energy saving jikos
  11. Public awareness campaigns to conserve forests