Coastal Forests and Woodlands

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, 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 climate (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 with adverse felt by 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 their inhabitants are a direct danger of extinction to these woodlands, as what makes them thrive in the first place are their natural inhabitants. There is a need to increase the awareness level of the importance of trees in society. This paper explores different forests that exist in the world, with primary focus on one of the coastal forests and woodlands in different regions and continents. The benefits 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, 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.

In addition to these, 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 which include evergreen forest, scrub forest, Brachystegia woodland, scrub forest 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. The geography of these forests includes the Mediterranean, south-central and southwestern Australia, the Chilean matorral, Mediterranean ecoregions, and the fynbos of southern Africa, are the regions where they can be found (“Mediterranean Forests”). They are known for their array of species which include white pan forest and oak hemlock.

These forest types are natural habitat for associated fauna, and this allows virtually all kinds of animals to thrive there. Similarities between Coastal Forests and Woodlands Although, in different locations that are thousands of miles apart in most cases, the coastal forests and woodlands, however, 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 2 700 km.

Lecturer, Forestry Department). 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. 1). 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.

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). 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 which are thousands of miles distance from one another. 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 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”). Differences between Coastal Forests and Woodlands Despite being similar in many areas, these forest ecoregions have their unique features which distinctly distinguish them. For instance, the South Africa coastal forest ecoregions have plants that are not commonly found in other coastal woodlands.

For instance, the Tongaland-Pondoland ecoregion has three related species that are confined within the Mosaic region; they are Atalaya, Alberta, and Protorhus. Also, 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. Also, 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). 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 habiting the ecoregion. The leopard, caracal, the black-back jackal are some other animals here. Also, 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”). 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 existing 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”). Judging by the individual descriptions of these various coastal forests and woodlands, the diversities which tell them apart are in different forms.

They include the constrained species in each of them, which cannot be found in others. Also, in some cases, some habitats, which though, may exist in almost all other regions, are more concentrated in some than others. In addition to that, the nature of threats that each is subjected to by both human activities and natural occurrences differ based on their geographical differences.

For instance, the coastal forests in Africa regions are mostly having the challenges of indiscriminate economical activities ranging unregulated logging and fire fallow popularly called “slash and burn” From the climate change, torrential and unpredicted rainfall, flooding, and drought are some of the threats being faced by the coastal forests and woodlands in the region. In northern California and Alaska regions, however, the major challenges from human activities is developments of suburb areas which has claimed many areas that used to be an extension of the coastal forests.

While logging activities are also common in these regions, they are not as high as it is in the African regions. The weather conditions in these areas are also different from those in southern Africa. These differing characteristics are what distinguish the coastal forests and woodlands according to their geographical locations. Despite their uniqueness and regional and global significance, it must be noted, however, that coastal forests and woodlands are not the only types of forest that exist in the world.

There are many other types with each have its unique characteristics and are famous for their geographic locations, biodiversities, and other attributes. Some of these other forest classifications are maritime forests, hemlock forests, deciduous forests, and temperate coniferous forest Other Forest Types Maritime forests are found near the oceans on exposed bluffs. They also occur at the back of inland side of dunes, interdunal areas, and salt marsh borders. They can also be found in a mosaic of vegetation structure and species mixes.

Maritime Forests and Woodlands are known for a combination of both deciduous and evergreen trees (“Maritime Forest Woodland”). The maritime forest can be easily differentiated from the shrub forest by its clearly defined canopy which makes it stand out from other types of forests. Some plants are able to thrive in this low light atmosphere and they are mainly part of the understory of the forest. Soils in the maritime forests are typically sands, and the surface layers of these soils are mainly organic materials.

The large concentration of leaf litter, fragments of seashells, and salt spray in the forests make the sandy soil here to be higher in nutrients compared to sandy soils commonly seen in other habitats. The soil in here is known to be very fertile and moist, which makes it very supportive to the large trees in the forest, these types of soils conditions take at least up to one hundred years to develop to that state.

Species in Maritime Forests include America holly, sassafras, black gum, black cherry, red maple, and black, white, scarlet, and other oaks are some of the canopy that are commonly found here are usually made of. Inkberry, bayberry, winged sumac, sweet pepper-bush, and shadbush are some of the shrubs that commonly grow in the maritime forests (“Maritime Forest Woodland”). Maritime forests are habitat for associated fauna, which makes it habitable to all kinds of animals. Some of the animals that mostly find forage and resting here include songbirds.

Sandy Neck, Cape Cod National Seashore, Wellfleet, and Carr Island Salisbury are some examples of Maritime public access (“Maritime Forest Woodland”). Deciduous forests are other types of woodlands in the world, Biology Dictionary describes deciduous forests are a biome with main concentration of deciduous trees that lose their leaves seasonally. Categorized into two -temperate deciduous forests, and tropical and subtropical forests which are also called dry forests.

In tropical deciduous forests, trees lose their leaves in the dry season and regrow them in rainy season; while trees in the temperate deciduous forests, lose their leaves in the fall and regrow them in the spring. They can be found in Asia, North America, and Europe. Notable among them are the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (USA), the Northeast China Plain, and the European Temperate Deciduous Forest. Some of the mammals that live in deciduous forests are mice, foxes, deer, otters and bears.

It is also home to human beings. It is as well habitable for insects, reptiles and birds. Elephants giraffes, monkeys, can also be found in the tropical and subtropical deciduous forests. Plants in the deciduous forests include oak, birch, beech, aspen, elm and maple. Others are teak trees, bamboo and palm trees, which are found in the tropical and subtropical forests. Ferns, flowers, mosses and herbs are some of the plant food that exist in deciduous forests. In the tropical and subtropical forests, orchid and many vines are well represented.

On the average, the temperature in a deciduous forest is 50?F. Annually, the rainfall in these forests is between 30 to 60 inches. For temperate deciduous forests, the precipitation is in the form of snow. However, the tropical and subtropical forests have a very tight temperature which is between 68?F to 77?F. Temperate coniferous forests are another kind of forest type. Defenders of Wildlife explain are usually found in coastal areas with heavy rainfall and mild winters. They could also be found in in-land mountainous areas with a mild climate.

They are common in areas like Southwestern South America, New Zealand, and Southern Japan. Its climate has a fluctuating temperature all through the year. The high level of precipitation of these forests stands at 50 – 200 inches per year. The soils in these types of forests are very rich with a thick layer of decaying materials. The high level of precipitation and moderate temperature these forests allow the trees here grow very tall. Cedar, cypress, Douglas fir and pine are some of the trees that are well represented in the forests.

Some deciduous trees like maple, and mosses and ferns could also be found in these forests. Animals that are commonly found in these forests include marmot, deer, black bear, salmon, and spotted owl. Another kind of forest type is Boreal (Taiga) Forests. The boreal forests are northernmost types of forests; they can be found between 50- and 60-degrees N latitude. Locations of these types of forests include Canada, northern Asia, Siberia and Scandinavia countries like Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden.

Scandinavia is home to about two-thirds of boreal forests (Defenders of Wildlife). Long winters and shorts summers characterizes the climate in boreal forests. Yearly, boreal forests receive 15 to 40 inches precipitation which is mostly in the form of snow. Due to cold temperature in the boreal forests, it takes a long time for materials to decompose, this usually leads to thin soil in the forests. Species such as spruce, fir and pine and other evergreen trees grow mainly in these forests.

The dense state of the canopy in boreal forests limit the understory found there. Animals in these forests are those with the ability to withstand the long, cold winters in the forests, they are mostly animals with thick fur. Examples are snowhoe hare, wolves, caribou, elk, moose, deer, grizzly bears, wolverines and lynxes (Defenders of Wildlife). Threats to Species in Coastal Forests and Woodlands Worthy of global concerns is also the level of threats faced by different forests in the world.

Generally, woodlands in the world are imperiled in many ways. In particular, however, coastal forests and woodlands, just like many other natural endowments, face threats from various angles. The threats are majorly from humans, due to many human activities that have subjected the natural inhabitants of these ecoregions to different types of peril, with many of them already gone into extinction, and many others already highly endemic, and on the verge of extinction as well.

The species and inhabitants of these forests, which consist of different types of plants and animals, are imperiled by both economic activities and natural disasters. For instance, in most of the coastal forests in Eastern Africa, there has been a high level of deforestation that is responsible for the extinction of many species and inhabitants of the ecoregions for decades, and this has called for international outcry and concerns from experts in the environmental field.

For over a decade now, due to the abundance of resources which abound in the region, there has been global demand for the species in the coastal forests there, especially the rich and unique timbers. Many countries from Europe and Asia have been engaging in timber trades which are “not only unsustainable but are also illegal” (“Coastal East Africa”). This has resulted in the region’s loss of valuable natural resources.

In the space of eight years (1997 and 2005), the growth of timber production in one of the countries in the region, Tanzania, is estimated to be up to 1,400%. Also causing threats to these habitats in the region is the forest conversion which has a devastating effect on the region’s biodiversity. With the incessant act of fire fallow in the region, that has led to the destruction of tracks of primaeval coastal forest and led to an increase in human-wildlife conflict.

These commercial activities have sent many of these natural inhabitants into extinction and are responsible for the state of the highly endemic status of many other uncommon species in the region. Apart from the timbers, other inhabitants facing human threats in this region are the fishes. There have been unregulated fishing activities going on in the region.

The lack of proper monitoring of fishing activities there has allowed many fishermen, both from within the local areas, and from other countries, and continents, to engage in overfishing which poses a severe threat to the existence of fish in the ecoregion. The human commercial agricultural activities are not the only threats facing the coastal forest in the region, it has also been burning the brunt of global climate change.

For instance, torrential and unpredictable rainfalls, tenacious drought, and other extreme and devastating weather conditions have been ravaging some parts of the regions including Mozambique, Kenya and Tanzania. The effects of the climate change which is usually followed by flooding, dearth, loss of.