Forests: A Very Short Introduction

Very Short Introductions #431

by Jaboury Ghazoul

Since the dawn of human civilization, forests have provided us with food, resources, and energy. The history of human development is also one of forest loss and transformation, and yet even in our increasingly urbanized societies we remain surprisingly dependent on forests for a wide range of goods and services. Moreover, forests still retain a remarkable hold on our environmental values. In an era of continuing tropical deforestation and temperate forest resurgence, and in the midst of uncertainties of climate and land use changes, it is more important than ever to understand what forests are, how they contribute to our livelihoods, and how they underpin our cultural histories and futures.

In this Very Short Introduction Jaboury Ghazoul explores our contrasting interactions with forests, as well as their origins, dynamics, and the range of goods and services they provide to human society. Ghazoul concludes with an examination of the recent history of deforestation, transitions to reforestation, and the future outlook for forests particularly in the context of expected climate change.

ABOUT THE
The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Science, Ecology, Biology, Geography, Natural History

150 pages, Paperback

First published April 18, 2015

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a purportedly introductory work, this book is densely packed with information relating to the subject, ranging from the biological and ecological to the human social and cultural aspects of forests throughout history right up to present times. While the brief description of different forest types and the dynamics of succession are straightforward, the later chapters on more complex issues like climate regulation and deforestation I found to be more contentious. In fact I found myself in disagreement with the author on his conclusion that forested areas have not been proven to prevent or mitigate large floods, and his assertion that economic development in the North had led to reforestation, failing to highlight that deforestation has simply been displaced to other parts of the world - predominantly the tropics. As for flood prevention, forests are definitely a better land cover than urbanized areas or deforested bare land.

It is quite obvious to anyone working in conservation or aware of the serious state of the natural world that the trend in global forest cover (and I mean old growth primary natural forests) is undisputedly DOWN. The neutral tone of this book, which ends by saying forests will remain in one form or another, is a tad overly optimistic.

[Andrew (Drew) Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good overview of forests and forestry. The final two chapters, in particular, are excellent and sober analyses of the modern issues facing forests. Lucid and clear and not too boring—what a very short introduction should be.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This examination of forests does an excellent job of balancing scientific information with an appreciation for forests in their cultural context.

[Kulthoum كلثوم · Rating 5 out of 5]

الغابات

ثري بالمعلومة العلمية والبحثية والتاريخ، ليس لقارئ مبتدئ في الكتب الجِدّية لكن إذا كان مهتم بالطبيعة والغابة بالأخص ستكون مفضلة سهلة.
بالنسبة لي أثناء القراءة ومحاولة هضم المعلومات تمنيت لو وجدت أفلام وثائقية (تصور) ما كتبها المؤلف ليسهل استيعابها كلوحة شاملة متصلة من بدء الخليقة ثم تكون الغابة ولاحقا تنوعها على الأرض.

متى ولد مفاهيم إدارة الغابات وأين تم تطبيقها وتطويرها بشكل فاعل، هل يمكن إنشاء غابات جديدة، أهمية الغابات للإنسان والحيوان والثقافة، ومحاولة البشر تطويعها لمصالحهم. دورات الحياة والتجديد للغابات مدهشة.

معلومات جديدة وغير متوقعة مثلا دور الغابات في تخفيف حدة الفيضانات، ومساهمة الغطاء الأبيض للثلج للغابات الشمالية في تسخين الجهة الخالية منها !

كتاب صغير الحجم لكن شامل كل النقاط المتصلة بالغابات.
===/===
اقتباس
تأرجحت المواقف الغربية من الغابات بين الصور المتناقضة للطبيعي وما فوق الطبيعي، أمكنة اللجوء والكمائن، النقاء والنس، الخير والشر، وساد الخوف منها باعتبارها موطن الجن والمخاطر. ١٦

أسبغ على الغابات مزايا روحية وقدسية، ولها معتقدات خاصة لها، تقريبا سمة للمجتمع البشري بأن تنسب نفوس الأسلاف بالأشجار وتسمى بأرواح الغابة، ويحظر المعمر منها ١٩ .. كما كرس لمواقع من الأشجار الغابات للآلهة.

شبهت الثقافة الأوروبية الغابات بالكاتدرائية والمعابد مبدية المزيد من القداسة الحميدة

أدى التأثر بالمعتقدات الدينية التوحيدية الغربية التي تركزت على الإنسان وأقل تعاطف مع الطبيعة إلى إضعاف المعتقدات الأسيوية التي كانت تؤمن الحماية للغابات من قبل وصيانتها. بينما شاع إلقاء اللوم على فلسفات الغرب المسيحي اليهودي الجشعة على سياسات البيئة التي لا يمكن مقارنتها بالثقافة الأسيوية والأفريقية والسكان الأصليين. ٢٥

الفترة الرومانسية تغير في الموقف
مبدأ سامي بتقدير الجمال الداخلي الرهيب للمناظر الطبيعية..( سامي) مشتق من الرؤى التي تثير الخوف والرعب فينتج الانفعال الأقوى الذي يستطيع العقل الشعور به. ٢٩ .. العواطف الأوروبية نحو الغابات تغيرت دراماتيكيا في نهاية القرن ١٨ حيث احترام البرية يحتل مكان متوافق مع البراءة والجمال والصحة الروحية والعقلية. وانعكس الاهتمام على الأدب والفن

نشأت المفاهيم في إدارة الغابات في أوروبا لكن في أمريكا الشمالية ولدت المفاهيم الغربية للغابات بوصفها  ( بقايا طبيعية برية بحاجة إلى حماية )
في ١٨٠٠ آراء جديدة في هذا الصدد و في ١٩٠٠ تعاظم الإدارة للمحافظة على الغابات
.

[Robert Thiesen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forests: A Very Short Introduction has an ambitious goal: introduce the forests that span the globe, from the tropics to the taiga. The author Jaboury Ghazoul achieves this with admirable breadth, richness of information, and a measured assessment of the state of knowledge.

Included is a cultural history of forests; a taxonomy of forests; a history of forests across geologic time; a description of the normal life cycle of forests including disruptive diseases, pests, fires, weather events, and human influences; the goods produced by forests; the influence of forests on the climate; and the economic dynamics that drive human interactions with forests.

One interesting topic covered is the effect of forests on climate. Forests have a cooling effect through their storage of carbon in trees and soil and the evaporation of water from the leaves of trees. This is offset by forests’ heating effect from their comparatively dark trees absorbing solar radiation, however. Adding all this up, it turns out that the boreal forests below the arctic have a net warming effect; the temperate forests have an uncertain temperature effect; and tropical forests have a net cooling effect. Tropical forests have this benefit because of all the evaporation occurring there, the reasonably high carbon sequestration (270 tonnes/hectare), and the fact that they do not block highly reflective snow like boreal forests. The heat absorption of trees is an instantaneous and regional effect, whereas the carbon sequestration of forests cools the globe indirectly over time by preventing additional carbon in the atmosphere.

It is hard to summarize the information in this book because what it covers is already at a high level of overview. In sum, I recommend it as a measured, to-the-point, and informative introduction to forests.

[Sivasothi N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another engaging and succinct VSI book which introduces the complexity of forests without overwhelming the reader. It will be great for students and anyone participating in ecosystem restoration. The history of forest use by humankind has parallels in various continents as Homo sapiens is consistent. Drawing on that history and the response of forests allows for realistic, constructive and hopeful action.

Read the e-book from NLB.

[Tri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Very Short Introduction series from Oxford, and try to read the ones applicable to my field to learn more, but also because I think they might be handy to recommend to my students.

I really appreciate the acknowledgment of harmful colonial land use practice laws against indigenous populations. Although a mention of controlled burns would have been a good addition to the section on fire.

I do think at this point this book is outdated. It was still worth reading and I learned some things, but nothing worth raving about.

[Christine B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot, although there were times when he used technical terms without clearly defining them enough for a novice audience (me).

[Seppe Boonen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, it awakened an interest for the history of forests and in current forest preservation in me. I don't regret reading it, but the writing isn't very captivating.

[Atika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, easily digestible and full of fascinating information. This one I had to read for a forest management course.

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, concise little packet of information portable enough to easily fit in my purse and whip out when I feel curious. It strays from too-heavy scientific writing and sticks with a casual tone that leads to an enjoyable, but still information-filled read. Well thought-out chapters tell you everything you need to know to understand the basics of forests on this planet. I will definitely be looking to purchase this book and Ghazoul's other books in the future.

[Vikas Datta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant... vitally important reading

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read prose - conversational style was appreciated along with a wealth of knowledge.