Threatened broad-leaved deciduous woodland habitats
Name(s):
Endangered habitats of open deciduous broad-leaved woodlands
Nature
Broadleaved forests have been largely cleared to make way for agriculture and for use as timber.
Background
Expressions of Broadleaved deciduous woodland are found in western and central Europe; eastern Asia, including Korea and Japan; and eastern North America. These areas are typified by an approximately 6 month growing season. The 20 to 60 inches of precipitation is distributed evenly throughout the year. The non- growing season is due to temperature-induced drought during the cold winters. Almost all the forests of eastern North America are second growth, but they preserve the world's greatest diversity of broadleaved deciduous forest flora and fauna. The Great Smoky Mountains have been designated a world biosphere reserve to help protect the rich assortment of species.
Incidence
In China intensive agriculture has caused much of this region to be cleared of natural vegetation for at least 4,000 years.
Value(s)
Type
(E) Emanations of other problems