West Coast Forest

By: Julie Lynch

Location

• The west coast forest is located only on the Pacific coast of North America, such as BC, Washington state, Oregon state and California state

Vegetation/ Wildlife

• The west coast forest is populated mainly by trees such as: cedar, hemlock, fir, spruce, and pine trees. There are also many shrubs like huckleberry bushes, ferns, salal and devil’s club.

• The forest is the home of many types of wildlife, it houses bears, beavers, birds, insects, deer, racoons and many other small creatures

Climate/ Landscape

• The climate is mild and there is sufficient rainfall.

• The amount of rain helps this forest grow and flourish constantly

• The landscape is quite mountainous because it is located along the coast

Benefits of the forest

• It keeps the air cleaner and provides us with oxygen

• It absorbs the carbon dioxide which assists in balancing the green house effect

• Keeps the soil fertile and stabilized which prevents soil erosion and infertility

• Stabilizes water ways which means less erosion and less sediment deposited into our water

Problems arising

• Our population is rapidly growing putting a huge demand on the logging industry to build our homes and supply our other needs

• Constant logging and clear cutting disturbs the wildlife. We are taking away more and more of their habitat daily.

• Because of this we have to transport animals or if they come into our contact we often have them killed or tranquilized

Problems continued

• Cutting down the forest means less ability to fight the green house effect

• Forest fires are a growing concern, over the past 5 years we have had more than ever at a greater severity

• In 2009 there were over 2000 forest fires in BC alone which burns carbon dioxide to help global warming

How to help

• Volunteer to plant trees, help re-built the forest

• Protest again companies/ projects that plan to build on forest land

• don’t use pesticides or insecticides in your garden, it only harms your soil and stays in the ecosystem

• Drive less and walk more to keep the forest healthy

The End!

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