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Forest
Myth-
conceptions? | | |
 BIODIVERSITY
 Natural forests
are always
bio-diverse?
Tropical forests have the most diversity of species,
and the more temperate systems tend to be less diverse.
Artificial tree gardens in the tropics can in fact be more diverse.
Monoculture tree plantations can be very poor in diversity,
but are nevertheless functional ecosystems –
requiring people to maintain them.
Bio-diversity is
essential for
people?
The diversity of species in tropical forests is good for people in three ways.
(1)
It is a necessary quality of the ecosystem
and thus helps maintain the services the forests provide;
(2)
It is the source of a wide range of forest products; and
(3)
Maintaining biodiversity allows people flexibility
in how they use the forest in the future.
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Some people argue that bio-diversity is intrinsically a good thing,
irrespective of the value people put on it –
and should therefore be conserved for its intrinsic value.
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