Question 1

All of the following are examples of economic services that forests provide except:

Accepted Answer

Reducing soil erosion is an ecological service provided by forests, not an economic service. Economic services typically involve direct financial benefits or resources that can be utilized for economic gain.

Question 2

All of the following statements about Wangari Maathai's tree planting program in Kenya are true except

Accepted Answer

All of the other statements are true. Wangari Maathai's tree planting program, also known as the Green Belt Movement, has sparked the creation of similar programs in over 30 other African countries and has had 50,000 members since its inception in 1977. It has established 6,000 village nurseries and started with a small nursery in Wangari Maathai's backyard. However, it has faced challenges with government support, which has led to some failures.

Question 3

Which type of forest is considered a reservoir of biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

Old-growth forests have a complex structure and support a wide diversity of plant and animal species. They contain large trees, standing and fallen deadwood, canopy gaps, and other unique features that provide habitat for different animals and plants. Thus, old-growth forests are considered a reservoir of biodiversity.

Question 4

When roads are built into previously inaccessible forest areas to harvest timber, all of the following things happen except:

Accepted Answer

The statement "the forest ecosystem remains intact with no disturbance or damage" is incorrect. Building roads in previously inaccessible forest areas for timber harvesting leads to deforestation and habitat loss, resulting in fragmentation, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and sediment runoff in waterways.

Question 5

The most compelling issue that is causing loss of grasslands in the Western United States is

Accepted Answer

Overgrazing is the most compelling issue that is causing loss of grasslands in the Western United States. Overgrazing occurs when livestock graze an area for too long or too heavily, which can damage the vegetation and soil. This can lead to a loss of biodiversity, as well as an increase in erosion and desertification.

Question 6

Countries with the largest areas of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified trees, in order from largest to smallest certified areas, are:

Accepted Answer

According to the Forest Stewardship Council's report on certification statistics as of June 2021, the countries with the largest areas of FSC certified trees in order from largest to smallest are: Canada, Russia, Sweden, United States, Poland, and Brazil. Therefore, choice D is correct.

Question 7

As a consequence of the reintroduction of the gray wolf into Yellowstone National Park and northern Idaho, the following other wild species have made a comeback:

Accepted Answer

The reintroduction of gray wolves into Yellowstone National Park and northern Idaho has had a cascading effect on the food web, which has resulted in the resurgence of multiple species, including beavers, ground squirrels, mice, gophers, willow, aspen, and cottonwood trees. This is because gray wolves control the populations of their prey, which, in turn, limits the destructive behavior of herbivores on vegetation and promotes the growth of vegetation resources for smaller, non-predatory species.

Question 8

A process in which grazing cattle are confined with portable fencing to specific small areas for a short time and then moved is called

Accepted Answer

Rotational grazing involves confining grazing cattle to specific small areas for a short time and then moving them to new areas. This method helps prevent overgrazing, promotes even grazing, and allows forrest periods for vegetation to recover. Option A, erosion control, is a broader term that includes various strategies to prevent soil erosion. Options C and D, nutrient cycling and organic grazing, do not accurately describe the method of rotating grazing cattle. Option E is not a commonly used term in this context. Therefore, option B is the most suitable answer.

Question 9

Fairly diverse second- and third-growth forests now exist in all parts of the United States except the

Accepted Answer

The West, particularly areas like the Pacific Northwest, still has significant tracts of old-growth forests, unlike other regions where second- and third-growth forests are more common.

Question 10

A tree harvesting method that involves cutting intermediate-aged or mature trees singly or in small groups is called

Accepted Answer

Selective cutting involves the removal of individual trees or small groups of trees that are of intermediate age or mature. This method allows for the retention of some trees within the stand, maintaining biodiversity and habitat for wildlife, while also providing timber. Clear-cutting removes all trees within an area, strip cutting removes trees in narrow strips, patch cutting removes groups of trees but in larger patches than selective cutting, and landscape cutting is not a common term in forestry.

Question 11

All of the following are important aspects of sustainable forestry except

Accepted Answer

The rest of the choices (A, B, C, and E) are important aspects of sustainable forestry. However, relying more on clear-cutting goes against sustainable forestry practices as it leads to biodiversity loss, soil erosion, and water pollution.

Question 12

Which of the following is a secondary cause of forest degradation rather than a basic cause?

Accepted Answer

Fires are often a secondary cause of forest degradation, as they can result from other primary causes like human activities or natural events.

Question 13

A program undertaken by the U.S. Forest Service and the National Advertising Council that has helped humans and saved forests is

Accepted Answer

The Smokey Bear campaign, launched in 1944, has been a successful public service campaign that educated the public about the dangers of forest fires and promoted fire prevention measures. The campaign has helped reduce the number of human-caused wildfires and saved millions of acres of forests.

Question 14

A plant called kenaf would help to reduce the pressure to cut trees because its fiber is very useful for

Accepted Answer

Kenaf is primarily grown for its fiber, which can be used to create high-quality paper products. By using kenaf fiber in the paper-making process, there is less of a need to cut down trees for this purpose, making kenaf an environmentally friendly alternative. While kenaf can also be used for some other applications like home construction material, furniture making, fencing and decking material, and fabric for outdoor carpeting, its primary benefit is in reducing the pressure to cut trees for paper production.

Question 15

According to environmental writer Bill McKibbin, "the great environmental story of the United States, and in some ways, the whole world" is the

Accepted Answer

According to the statement given by environmental writer Bill McKibbin, the regrowth of forests is "the great environmental story of the United States, and in some ways, the whole world".

Question 16

The Green Belt Movement, founded by Wangari Maathai, combines tree planting and preservation with

Accepted Answer

The Green Belt Movement, founded by Wangari Maathai, combines tree planting and preservation with a women's self-help group that addresses poverty. The movement's goal is to empower women and promote environmental conservation through planting trees, providing access to clean water, and creating sustainable livelihoods.

Question 17

Natural ecological restoration of riparian areas can happen if

Accepted Answer

Protecting overgrazed land by moving cattle around allows vegetation to recover naturally, which can lead to ecological restoration of riparian areas.

Question 18

Strip cutting of timber is a method of harvesting that

Accepted Answer

Strip cutting involves clearing trees along a contour of the land within a narrow corridor, which helps in reducing erosion and maintaining habitat connectivity.

Question 19

Political steps that can help reduce the destruction and degradation of tropical forests include all of the following except

Accepted Answer

Encouraging migration to undisturbed tropical forests would actually increase the destruction and degradation of these important ecosystems. The other options, such as certifying sustainably grown timber, establishing sustainable agriculture and forestry strategies, subsidizing only sustainable-use forestry, and reducing poverty, are all ways to promote the long-term health and conservation of tropical forests.

Question 20

Sustainable management and harvesting of forests is certified by the

Accepted Answer

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a global nonprofit organization that sets standards for responsible forest management, including sustainable harvesting and social and environmental benefits for local communities. FSC certification is a widely recognized and respected certification program for sustainable forestry practices. The other options are either specific to the United States (A, B, E) or focused on conservation of endangered species rather than sustainable forest management (D).

Quiz 9: Sustaining Biodiversity: the Ecosystem Approach