TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF MOMBASA
KWALE CAMPUS
BACHELORS IN MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
BSMR021J2024,
IAN SAHA DENA
ASSIGNMENT 1
AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF FOREST RESOURCES: GLOBAL AND LOCAL DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE
AND INFLUENCING FACTORS
1.0 Introduction
Forest resources are among the most important natural resources supporting both ecological balance
and socio-economic development. They provide timber, fuelwood, medicinal products, food, wildlife
habitats and crucial ecosystem services such as water catchment protection, climate regulation and
carbon sequestration (FAO, 2022). Forests also play a major role in supporting agriculture, tourism and
energy production. Despite their importance, forests are unevenly distributed and increasingly
threatened by deforestation, land-use change and climate change.
This paper analyses forest resources by examining their global and local (Kenya) distribution, abundance
and the factors influencing their occurrence and sustainability.
2.0 Global Distribution and Abundance of Forest Resources
Globally, forests cover approximately 4.06 billion hectares, representing about 31% of the Earth’s land
surface (FAO, 2022). Forest resources are distributed across three main ecological zones: tropical,
temperate and boreal.
2.1 Tropical Forests
Tropical forests are located around the equator in South America, Central Africa and Southeast Asia.
They are characterized by high rainfall exceeding 2000 mm annually and consistently high temperatures.
The Amazon rainforest alone accounts for nearly one-third of the world’s remaining tropical forests.
Tropical forests contain the highest biodiversity and provide critical ecosystem services but are
experiencing the highest rates of deforestation due to agricultural expansion and logging (WWF, 2021).
2.2 Temperate Forests
KWALE CAMPUS
BACHELORS IN MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
BSMR021J2024,
IAN SAHA DENA
ASSIGNMENT 1
AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF FOREST RESOURCES: GLOBAL AND LOCAL DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE
AND INFLUENCING FACTORS
1.0 Introduction
Forest resources are among the most important natural resources supporting both ecological balance
and socio-economic development. They provide timber, fuelwood, medicinal products, food, wildlife
habitats and crucial ecosystem services such as water catchment protection, climate regulation and
carbon sequestration (FAO, 2022). Forests also play a major role in supporting agriculture, tourism and
energy production. Despite their importance, forests are unevenly distributed and increasingly
threatened by deforestation, land-use change and climate change.
This paper analyses forest resources by examining their global and local (Kenya) distribution, abundance
and the factors influencing their occurrence and sustainability.
2.0 Global Distribution and Abundance of Forest Resources
Globally, forests cover approximately 4.06 billion hectares, representing about 31% of the Earth’s land
surface (FAO, 2022). Forest resources are distributed across three main ecological zones: tropical,
temperate and boreal.
2.1 Tropical Forests
Tropical forests are located around the equator in South America, Central Africa and Southeast Asia.
They are characterized by high rainfall exceeding 2000 mm annually and consistently high temperatures.
The Amazon rainforest alone accounts for nearly one-third of the world’s remaining tropical forests.
Tropical forests contain the highest biodiversity and provide critical ecosystem services but are
experiencing the highest rates of deforestation due to agricultural expansion and logging (WWF, 2021).
2.2 Temperate Forests
