Forests and Their Products

Forests and their Products 1. Managed forests are manmade forests, usually of one or two tree types and in which all the trees are the same age. Natural forests, which contains different tree species and of different ages. 2. 1. Draining the land and fencing 2. Planting of young trees 3. Tinning 4. Harvesting 5. Second rotation 6. Transportation 3. The trees are planted closely because as they grow their branches form a mat which excludes the light. This prevents the growth of branches lower down the tree. 4. Thinning is the cutting of the smaller trees to allow the stronger trees grow to full maturity. From 15 years onwards the young conifers are thinned 5. This gives more space and light to the remaining trees and allows them more food 6. All the trees are cut down at the same time 7. A forest is clear felled at around the age of 30-50 years old 8. Factors that encourage fast tree growth is mild and moist climate
9. Disadvantages of fast tree growth * Defects such as knots or irregularities form in the wood
Advantages of fast tree growth * Faster production of timber
10. ‘Conversion of timber’ is when a log is cut into several pieces of a regular shape for boards or planks.
12. It is widely used in Ireland because it’s the simplest way of converting timber
13. Advantages of quarter sawing * Shows certain grain patterns in some hardwoods * Hard wearing surface * Growth rings are little and there are little distortion of the board when drying

14. How does quarter sawing enhance the: a) Visual- shows certain grain patterns in some hardwoods plus little distortion in the wood. b) Wearing characteristics of some hardwoods- a hard wearing surface is visible for hardwood floors, the edges of growth rings wear evenly without splitting.
15. What is meant by the term ‘manufactured boards’? The term manufactured boards is man-made boards, they are made up of layers which are glued together by