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A Healthy Forest Makes Healthy People
A Healthy Forest Makes Healthy People
Forests supply California with a steady source of clean water. Healthy forests benefit us by improving water quality and retention. The trees improve air quality by sequestering carbon and can be harvested sustainably for timber. Other than providing water and raw materials, these ecosystems contain beautiful scenery that attracts much tourism. It offers various recreational activities like hiking and wildlife viewing.
Forests supply California with a steady source of clean water. Healthy forests benefit us by improving water quality and retention. The trees improve air quality by sequestering carbon and can be harvested sustainably for timber. Other than providing water and raw materials, these ecosystems contain beautiful scenery that attracts much tourism. It offers various recreational activities like hiking and wildlife viewing.
Roaring River in King's Canyon National Park
Photo taken by RoadTripWarriorSource: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:River_in_the_King%27s_Canyon_National_Park.jpg
Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe
Source: https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-jjmkpNational forests supply around 20% of California’s total surface water supply. Forests can occur around lakes such as those in Lake Tahoe. Streams and rivers run through forests as well which can provide microhabitats for more different species. The trees in these ecosystems purifies the water running through the watershed. As forests become degraded, California will lose this important ecosystem service. Groundwater in these ecosystems has already experienced some level of depletion. As climate change continues, the wet season becomes shorter extending periods of drought. There’s less and less groundwater to maintain the trees during dry seasons. Actions to increase California’s depleted groundwater include thinning forests by prescribing fires and making the state’s water usage more sustainable.
National forests supply around 20% of California’s total surface water supply. Forests can occur around lakes such as those in Lake Tahoe. Streams and rivers run through forests as well which can provide microhabitats for more different species. The trees in these ecosystems purifies the water running through the watershed. As forests become degraded, California will lose this important ecosystem service. Groundwater in these ecosystems has already experienced some level of depletion. As climate change continues, the wet season becomes shorter extending periods of drought. There’s less and less groundwater to maintain the trees during dry seasons. Actions to increase California’s depleted groundwater include thinning forests by prescribing fires and making the state’s water usage more sustainable.
Children Examing the Undergrowth in Muir Woods National Park
Photo taken by The National Park ServiceSource: https://www.nps.gov/articles/getaway-muwo.htm
Lumberjack Harvesting Timber
Photo by The Bureau of Land Management Oregon and WashingtonSource: https://www.flickr.com/photos/blmoregon/
Vistors at Stout Grove in Redwood National Forest
Photo taken by The National Parks ServiceSource: https://www.nps.gov/redw/learn/news/local_economy.htmReferences:
Billions of gallons of water saved by thinning forests. (2018, April 24). Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180424160251.htm
North, M., Collins, B. M., Safford, H., & Stephenson, N. L. (2016). Montane forests. In: Mooney, Harold; Zavaleta, Erika, eds. Ecosystems of California: Berkeley, CA: University of California Press: 553-577. Chapter 27, 553-577.
Remucal, J., Wayburn, L., & Bachmann, S. (2017). A Risk Assessment of California’s Key Source Watershed Infrastructure . Retrieved from https://www.pacificforest.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/HWC-Book_Web.pdf
Wong, K. (2019, January 11). Groundwater Shepherds California Forests Through Long Droughts. Retrieved from https://ucnrs.org/groundwater-shepherds-california-forests-through-long-droughts/
(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=stelprdb5352584
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