X. Woodland

Structure of the Chapter:

Introduction:

About one-third of the world's land surface is classified as woodland, and approximately 1 percent of the standing timber is harvested each year. Almost half of the felled timber is used for fuel, the remainder being made into wood products or pulp for paper and packaging materials. After studying this chapter, students should be able to describe farm woodland management and master terminology connected with this unit.

 

Key Words:

Occur - happen, take place
Landscape - inland scenery
Wildlife - animals and plants that grow independently of people, usually in natural conditions
Game - animals and birds that are hunted for food or sport
Timber - trees that are grown so that the wood from them can be used for building
Neglect - to give not enough care or attention to people or things that are your responsibility
Incentive - something which encourages a person to do something
Deter - to prevent or discourage (someone) from doing something by making it difficult for them to do it
Enduring - continuing to exist for a long time
Gestation - the period of the development of a plant, or child or young animal
Offset - to balance against an opposing influence, so that there is no great difference as a result
Seedling - young plant newly grown from a seed
Heifer - new, young growth on a plant or bush
Hurdle - movable upright oblong frame of wood, used for making temporary fences
Spars - strong wooden pole

Pre-reading Tasks:

Do you like going for a walk to the woods?
What kinds of coniferous and broadleaved trees do you know?
What is the significance of the woods?


listening

Specialist text:

Farm woodland management

Woodland covers 2,400,000 ha or about 10% of the total land area of Britain, of which farm woodlands make up about 350,000 ha. Less productive than many larger commercial forests, farm woodlands typically occur in small fragmented parcels and comprise a significant proportion of mixed broadleaved woods, especially in the lowlands of Britain, where they form important features in the landscape and may have considerable value for wildlife and game. Unfortunately, timber quality and productivity may be significantly reduced by a combination of factors, including difficult access, poor condition of the growing stock, small size and neglected or inappropriate management. Fortunately, both site conditions ad the quality of the trees can be improved by the application of appropriate silvicultural techniques to create a quality timber resource with multiple benefits for the landscape, amenity, wildlife and game. New farm woodland planting is also expanding, as surplus agricultural land becomes available and grant incentives encourage farmers to diversify into woodland enterprises.
Despite this clear potential, a number of perceived obstacles deter landowners from either managing existing woodlands or planting new ones, including a lack of knowledge of silviculture and how to market small volumes of timber. The most enduring financial obstacle is the long gestation period involved in forest investments, requiring a wait of at least 20 years for most crops before thinnings even begin to offset the early establishment costs. This income gap can be partially offset by some of the following options:

Coppice woodland

Traditional coppicing arose by the regular cutting of natural mixed woodland. Stools that died were replaced by cuttings, seedlings or by a process of layering involving bending over a remaining coppice shoot from an existing, healthy stool, pegging it to the ground and covering with earth. Coppice is one of the oldest forms of forest management, supplying fuelwood and roundwood for traditional rural crafts producing hurdles, thatching spars and tool handles.

Comprehension questions:

  1. How many hectares does woodland cover in Great Britain?
  2. Where do farm woodlands form important features in the landscape?
  3. What encourages farmers to diversify into woodland enterprises?
  4. What is also expanding?
  5. What is the most enduring financial obstacle?
  6. How did the traditional coppicing arise?
 
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Activities:

I. Decide whether the following statements are true or false:

  1. Woodland covers about 20% of the total land area of Great Britain.
  2. Farm woodlands comprise an important proportion of coniferous woods.
  3. The long gestation period involved in forest investments requires a wait of at least 20 years for most crops before thinnings begin to offset the early establishment costs.
  4. The "income gap" can be partially offset by the development of shorter rotation crops.
  5. Farm woodlands occur in large fragmented parcels.
  6. The quality of the trees can be improved by the application of appropriate silvicultural techniques.
  7. The use of electronic marketing and auction systems is not becoming popular.
  8. Small farm woodlands cannot compete with the large upland forests.

 
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II. Fill in the proper tenses and forms of the verbs listed below:

will depend   may have to be compromised
must be prioritized   are set
can be managed   can be formulated
While woodlands 1) successfully for multiple benefits, competing objectives 2) so that an appropriate silvicultural management plan 3) . For the majority of farm woodlands, maximum timber production 4) to a certain extent to incorporate secondary objectives, such as game and wildlife habitat or to meet the requirements of landscape designations. Once the overall objectives 5) , the specific silvicultural operations most appropriate 6) on an assessment of the site conditions and the growing crop, together with a knowledge of the external environment, such as the market for timber produce, the wider policy framework and grant arrangements.

 
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III. Complete the table with the verb or noun which has been omitted:

Verb Noun
occur
combination
rotate
asses
sale
processor
owner
supply
application
expansion
protect
rely on
removal

 
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IV Fill in the correct prepositions:

Coppicing is a silvicultural system suitable 1) mainly broadleaved species, which are capable 2) regenerating from the stumps, or stools, of a previous crop cut near to ground level. Coppice can be converted 3) high forest 4) reducing the number 5) coppice shoots to one for every stool. The faster growth 6) the first few years does not continue through the rotation, so that volume out-turn equals that of maiden trees. Stored coppice typically produces poor quality timber, as a result 7) basal sweep, shake and a tendency to decay. Firewood is traditionally a secondary product 8) the branchwood and low quality timber of broadleaved woodland, especially coppice. As a fuel, only air-dried wood should be burnt, since wood 9) a high moisture content gives off little heat and causes tar deposits 10) stoves.

 
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V. Match the words with proper opposites:

1) surplus   a) abundance
2) broadleaved   b) minor
3) include   c) protect
4) lack   d) fell
5) cost   e) coniferous
6) ease   f) deficit
7) substantial   g) revenue
8) rapid   h) slow
9) threaten   i) exclude
10) plant   j) difficulty

 
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VI. Quiz

Look at the sentences below and choose the right answer.
1. Surplus agricultural land becomes
available
adjustable
admirable
2. Revenue from harvesting an existing crop can be used to.
include
offer
offset

the cost of establishment.

3. Small woodlands cannot
competitor
competition
compete

with the large upland forests.
4. The majority of existing woodlands have the potential to regenerate from the seed that
has fallen
had fallen
was fallen

on the forest floor.
5. Farm woodlands typically occur in small fragmented
places
parcels
pieces
6. Grant incentives
encouraging
encourage
to encourage

farmers to diversify into woodland enterprises.
7. Timber is normally sold on a price unite volume
base
basis
basic
8. Each tree species will have recognized characteristics which must
be met
be have met
have be met

for particular markets.
9. Grants are available to compensate landowners for
planting trees
keeping trees
sowing trees
10. The quality of the trees can be improved by the application of appropriate silvicultural
technic
technicians
techniques
 
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Summary:

This chapter deals with farm woodland management and comprises several activities for widening vocabulary and practising specialist terminology of this topic.

Literature:

The Agricultural Notebook edited by R. J. Soffe, Blackwell Publishing Company 2003
Carbonell I., Westall D.: English for agricultural and forestry students, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, 2001


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Checks:

Comprehension Check:

  1. 2,400,000 ha
  2. especially in the lowlands of Great Britain
  3. grant incentives
  4. new farm woodland planting
  5. long gestation period involved in forest investments
  6. it arose by regular cutting of natural mixed woodland

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Check I:


F, F, T, T, F, T, F, T,

Check II

1) can be managed, 2) must be prioritized, 3) can be formulated, 4) may have to be compromised, 5) are set, 6) will depend

Check III:

Noun: occurrence, rotation, assessment, supply, protection
Verb: combine, sell, process, own, apply, expand, remove

Check IV

1) for, 2) of, 3) to, 4) by, 5) of, 6) in, 7) of, 8) from, 9) with, 10) in

Check V

1f, 2e, 3i, 4a, 5g, 6j, 7b, 8h, 9c, 10d

Check VI

  1. a
  2. c
  3. c
  4. a
  5. b
  6. b
  7. b
  8. a
  9. a
  10. c
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