Section 1: Gathering Information
The World’s Forests Web-quest
Summary
Students are asked to access various Web sites and complete the Web-quest Exploration
Guide to learn about the world’s forests, including locations, services, uses, human impacts,
and the role of sustainable forestry in conserving global forest area. As a culminating
project, students create posters and present to the class.
Background
The World’s Forests
Forests are vital to life on Earth—
they provide habitats for a large diversity
of mammals, invertebrates, and plant
species; green space recreational
areas; clean air and water; and many
products that we use in our dayto-day lives. Forests also support
biodiversity; are vital to the water
cycle; prevent erosion; remove carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere through
physical or biological processes, such as
photosynthesis; and provide subsistence
for indigenous cultures and local peoples.
Trees are part of our everyday lives as
part of our environment and are in the
products we use on a daily basis. Even so,
we may not be aware of the condition of
our global forests, where the world’s forests
are located, or that many of them are in
danger of deforestation. Deforestation is
the cutting, clearing, and removal of forests
or related ecosystems so the land can
be used for purposes other than natural
habitat. The major causes of deforestation
are agriculture, mining, logging, oil
and gas extraction, cattle ranching, and
development.
Sustainable Forest Management
Sustainable forest management is a
global initiative to promote management
practices that ensure the long-term
health and vitality of forests. Issues
related to sustainability include social
justice, economic viability, environmental
health, and reduction of global
deforestation rates. Defining sustainable
forest management can be a difficult
task. Instead of one concise definition,
sustainable forest management is often
described using seven key themes
outlined here (FAO, 2008).
1. Extent of Forest Resources:
Conservation of significant forest
cover, forest types, and trees outside of
forests (such as trees within cities and
neighborhoods).
2. Biological Diversity: Conservation of
diverse forest ecosystems, tree species,
and genetic structure.
3. Forest Health and Vitality:
Management of unwanted
disturbances (such as wildfires,
pollution, storm damage, insects, and
disease).
4. Productive Functions of Forest
Resources: Management of wood
and nonwood forest products to meet
current needs without compromising
options for future generations to
manage forests for their needs.
5. Protective Functions of Forest
Resources: Maintenance of water
quality, soil quality, and functions
related to ecosystem conservation.
activity 4
n subjects
Science, Social Studies,
Language Arts
n Key Questions
1. Where are the world’s
forests, and how much
acreage do they cover?
2. What are the uses of
forests?
3. What is sustainable forestry?
n Objectives
1. By the end of the activity,
students will be able to do
the following:
2. Describe services, uses,
and products that humans
obtain from forests and
the limits on these resources (SC.912.L.17.11;
SC.912.L.17.19).
3. Explain how humans
affect forest health
(SC.912.L.17.18;
SC.912.L.17.20).
4. Explain sustainable forestry and forest certification (SC.912.L.17.12;
SS.912.G.5.5).
5. Synthesize information gathered by creating a poster
and presenting this poster
to the class (LA.1112.5.2.3).
n Materials
• Copies of The World’s Forests
Student Worksheet:Web-quest
Exploration Guide for each
student
• Computers with Internet
access for each student or
pair of students
• Headphones for each
student for video/audio
sections
n Time Estimate
1 hour
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Section 1 – Activity 4:The World’s Forests Web-quest
49
The American
Tree Farm System
works “to promote the growing
of renewable forest resources on private lands
while protecting environmental
benefits and increasing public
understanding of all benefits of
productive forestry” (American
Tree Farm System, 2004).
The Sustainable
Forestry Initiative
(SFI) program
“is based in the premise that
responsible environmental behavior and sound business decisions can co-exist to the benefit
of landowners, manufacturers,
shareholders, customers, the
people they serve, the environment, and future generations.
The SFI program integrates the
perpetual growing and harvesting of trees with the protection
of wildlife, plants, soil, water, and
air quality” (SFI, 2008).
The Forest Stewardship Council
(FSC) sets standards “to ensure
forestry practices are conducted in a way that is environmentally responsible, socially
beneficial, and economically
viable” (FSC, 2008).
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LARRY KORHNAK
The USDA Forest Service Forest Stewardship
Program “provides
technical assistance, through State forestry
agency partnerships, to nonindustrial private forest owners
to encourage and enable active
long-term forest management”
(Forest Stewardship Program,
2008).
Forests provide important ecosystem services, such as groundwater recharge and aquatic habitat.
6. Socio-economic Functions:
Management of forests to provide
employment and contribute to the
economy, while also protecting the
cultural, spiritual, and recreational
values of forests.
7. Legal, Policy, and Institutional
Framework: Creation of fair and
equitable governance systems that
allow sustainable forest management to
occur.
Many states publish standards to
protect, maintain, or improve water and
soil quality and wildlife habitat during
forestry activities. Best Management
Practices (BMPs) in the Southeastern
United States provide landowners with a
set of voluntary guidelines for conducting
forestry operations while also protecting
soil and water quality. These BMPs can
help forest landowners maintain healthy,
sustainable forests.
Sustainable Forest
Management Programs
In addition to state BMPs, there
are a number of programs available to
help landowners implement sustainable
forest management plans. By outlining
management standards that participants
must meet, these programs ensure that
forests are managed according to a variety
of environmental, social, and economic
principles. Independent reviewers
determine whether the forests are actually
managed appropriately to maintain
quality. There are a number of forest
management programs in the U.S. For
example, the American Tree Farm System
and the Forest Stewardship Program
provide information and assistance to
landowners. In addition, the Sustainable
Forestry Initiative and the Forest
Stewardship Council are programs that
certify if a forest is sustainably managed.
Florida BMPs
For more information on the Florida
Division of Forestry’s Best Management
Practices visit http://www.fl-dof.com/
forest_management/index.html
Should We Use Wood for Energy? • Section 1 – Activity 4:The World’s Forests Web-quest
Teacher Instructions
Preparation
1. Read the Background Information provided at the beginning of this activity and
make copies if you plan to assign reading before the activity. Additional, more
detailed information is available in the Sustainable Forest Management fact sheet in
the Supplemental Reading section.
2. Go through the Web-quest Exploration Guide on your own to familiarize yourself
with the topic and activity.
3. Ensure that each Web site link is operational and that the video segments upload
correctly.
Procedure
1. When students are at computer stations, pass out copies of the Web-quest
Exploration Guide and provide them with the web address to open the PDF file from
the program Web site (this will enable them to utilize active hyperlinks). Also, pass
out headphones. Ask students to wear headphones during video/audio sections
of the Web-quest or if headphones are unavailable, ask them to lower or mute the
volume.
2. Review instructions with your class and make sure each student completes his or her
own worksheet.
3. When students complete the Web-quest, initiate a class discussion using the
Discussion Questions found in the Conclusion section. If time is limited, you can do
the discussion the following day or assign the questions as student homework.
4. After completing this Web-quest, ask students to create a poster about forests and
sustainable forest management using the information they collected about the
world’s forests. Students should use graphics or pictures. Encourage students to
draw, use magazine clippings or photos, and to be as creative as possible. Students
should also cite evidence and resources in the poster text. Posters can be displayed
around the classroom, lunchroom, or in school hallways.
Should We Use Wood for Energy? •
Section 1 – Activity 4:The World’s Forests Web-quest
teacher
Assessment
Suggestions
Objective 1:
Review student answers
to the Web-quest Exploration
Guide, parts I,V, and VI.
Objective 2:
Review student answers
to the Web-quest Exploration
Guide, parts III-V.
Objective 3:
Review student answers
to the Web-quest Exploration
Guide, parts I, II, and IV.
Objective 4:
Review student answers
to the Web-quest Exploration
Guide, part VII.
Objective 5:
Score student posters using
the rubric on the following
page.
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teacher
Extensions
• Show the Food and
Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations’ 17minute video, Forests and
Climate Change: A Convenient
Truth in class. This video
provides information on
forests’ role in the mitigation
of global climate change and
the importance of conserving
the world’s forests. Available
for download or order at:
http://www.fao.org/forestry/
publications/en/ (click on
Multimedia in the Publications
section of the Web site).
• Ask students to research the
location of forests in their
own community. Instruct
them to summarize forest
area, type, and primary
function.
• Ask students to go to a
hardware store and look for
sustainable forest products.
Ask students to write a brief
report on what they found.
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n Student Poster Rubric: The World’s Forests Web-quest
Category
4 Above
Standards
3 Meets
Standards
2 Approaching
Standards
1 Below
Standards
Graphics –
Originality
Several of the
graphics used on
the poster reflect
an exceptional
degree of student
creativity in their
creation and/or
display.
One or two
of the graphics used on
the poster reflect student
creativity in
their creation
and/or display.
The graphics
are made by the
student, but are
based on the
designs or ideas
of others.
No graphics made
by the student are
included.
Content –
Accuracy
At least 7 accurate facts are
displayed on the
poster.
5-6 accurate
facts are
displayed on
the poster.
3-4 accurate
facts are displayed on the
poster.
Less than 3 accurate
facts are displayed on
the poster.
Attractiveness The poster is
exceptionally attractive in terms
of design, layout,
and neatness.
The poster
is attractive
in terms of
design, layout,
and neatness.
The poster is
acceptably attractive though
it may be a bit
messy.
The poster is distractingly messy or very
poorly designed. It is
not attractive.
Knowledge
Gained
Student can accurately answer
all questions
related to facts
in the poster and
processes used to
create the poster.
Student can
accurately
answer most
questions
related to facts
in the poster
and processes
used to create
the poster.
Student can accurately answer
about 75% of
questions related
to facts in the
poster and processes used to
create the poster.
Student appears to have
insufficient knowledge
about the facts or
processes used in the
poster.
Grammar
There are no
grammatical
mistakes on the
poster.
There is 1
grammatical
mistake on
the poster.
There are 2
grammatical
mistakes on the
poster.
There are 3 or more
grammatical mistakes
on the poster.
Resources
• Florida Division of Forestry: http://www.fl-dof.com/
• Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations:
http://www.fao.org/forestry/home/en/
• University of Florida Extension Service: Florida Forest Stewardship:
http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/extension/florida_forestry_information/planning_
and_assistance/forest_certification_programs.html
• University of Florida, IFAS Extension:Trees in Your Life Fact Sheet:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FR077
Should We Use Wood for Energy? • Section 1 – Activity 4:The World’s Forests Web-quest
The World’s Forests
Web-quest Exploration Guide
STUDENT
(1 of 5)
_________________________________________________________________ ________________ ______________
NAME
date
period
Forests play a key role in maintaining the health of the Earth, and they also provide us with many
important services and products. This Web-quest Exploration Guide leads you to various Web sites to learn
about the world’s forests. Get ready to learn more about forests, why they are important, how human
activities affect them, and what we can do to protect them! Follow the instructions and complete the
worksheet to turn in to your teacher.
I. What Do You Know About Forests?
Go to The World Bank you think! But do you know? Web site: http://youthink.worldbank.org/
multimedia/gallery/forests/slideshow_forests.php
Put your headphones on and click Start Slideshow.
Answer the following questions:
1. List at least three reasons why global forests are important.
2. Why are trees considered a “renewable resource”?
3. What are some impacts of forest loss?
II.Deforestation
Go to the National Geographic Eye in the Sky Web site:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/eye/deforestation/deforestation.html
Scroll through the pages by clicking on The Effect, The Phenomena, and The Science and answer the
following questions:
1. According to the Web site, what are the major causes of global forest loss?
2. According to the World Resources Institute, what percentage of the Earth’s natural forests have
already been destroyed?
3. What are some of the consequences of deforestation?
4. What are some solutions and actions to reduce global deforestation rates?
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Section 1 – Activity 4:The World’s Forests Web-quest
53
STUDENT
The World’s Forests Web-quest Exploration Guide (2 of 5)
III. Global Forest Cover Data
Go to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Web site: http://www.fao.org/
forestry/28808/en/
Answer the following questions:
1. What is the global forest area in acres? (Hint: 1 hectare = 2.47 acres)
2. Which countries have more than half of the world’s forest area?
3. In what areas of the world do countries have less than 10% of their total land area in forests?
4. How many countries have more than 50% of their total land area forested?
IV. Forest Area Change
Go to the Global Forest Watch Web site: http://www.globalforestwatch.org/english/index.htm
Click on “FAQs” on the left side of the screen.
Using your mouse, run your cursor across the words Original forest extent, Current forest cover, and
Remaining frontier forest and watch how the world map changes.
Answer the following questions:
1. What is a frontier forest?
2. Which regions of the world contain most of the remaining frontier forests?
Use the questions and answers on the webpage to find the following information:
1. Using soccer fields for scale, how much of the world’s forests are lost each minute, based on
FAO’s global annual estimates?
2. What types of human activities threaten frontier forests?
Go to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Web site:
http://www.fao.org/forestry/30515/en/
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Should We Use Wood for Energy? • Section 1 – Activity 4:The World’s Forests Web-quest
The World’s Forests Web-quest Exploration Guide (3 of 5)
STUDENT
Read the facts and figures about deforestation and net forest area change.
Answer the following questions:
1. How many acres of the world’s forests are lost to deforestation each year
(Hint 1 hectare = 2.47 acres)?
2. Is this rate increasing or slowing? Why?
V. United States Forest Facts
Go to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Web site:
http://www.fao.org/forestry/
Click on the Countries on the left menu and select the United States from the drop down menu.
Click on Summary: forests and the forestry sector from the left menu.
Answer the following questions:
1. What percentage of the world’s forest area exists in the United States?
2. How many hectares of forest does the U.S. have? How does this compare to other nations?
3. What country is the largest consumer and producer of forest products?
VI. Forest Products and Services
Go to the Idaho Forest Products Commission Web site: http://www.idahoforests.org/wood_you.htm
Answer the following questions:
1. What are some of the services that trees provide us?
2. What is wood made of?
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Section 1 – Activity 4:The World’s Forests Web-quest
55
STUDENT
The World’s Forests Web-quest Exploration Guide (4 of 5)
3. List at least 10 products made from trees that you originally did not know came from trees.
VII. What is Sustainable Forest Management?
Go to the Forest Encyclopedia Network Web site:
http://www.forestencyclopedia.net/
Click on Framework for Achieving Sustainable Forest Management from the left menu.
What is sustainable forest management?
Click on each of the components at the bottom of the page and summarize in the following space
how each of these contribute to sustainable forest management.
Adaptive Forest Management:
International Agreements and Protocols:
Certification Systems:
Go to the United States Environmental Protection Agency Forestry Certification Programs Web site:
http://www.epa.gov/nps/forestry-certification.html
List the three major forestry certification programs:
Choose one program and click on the link to visit the program’s Web site. Briefly describe this
program.
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Should We Use Wood for Energy? • Section 1 – Activity 4:The World’s Forests Web-quest
The World’s Forests Web-quest Exploration Guide (5 of 5)
STUDENT
Discussion Questions
Conclusion
agencies or organizations sponsored the Web sites you collected information
1 What
Forests are vital to life on
Earth—they provide habitats for a large diversity of
mammals, invertebrates, and
plant species; green space
recreational areas; clean
air and water; and many
products that we use in our
day-to-day lives. While trees
are part of our everyday
lives as part of our environment and in the products
we use, we may not be
aware of the condition of
our global forests. Through
this Web-quest, you have
learned more about forests
worldwide, why they are
important, how human activity affects them, and what
we can do to protect them.
Go through the following
discussion questions regarding the information you
gathered in this Web-quest
and be prepared to share
your thoughts with the class.
from and how might that information be biased?
2 Is
the information presented on the Web sites balanced?
3 In
what ways do you personally value forests that are located near your home?
Within your state? Within your country? Around the globe?
are forests a vitally important global resource?
4 Why
can individuals and families do to reduce carbon emissions?
5 What
are some of the benefits to forest certification programs?
6 What
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Section 1 – Activity 4:The World’s Forests Web-quest
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