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FIND OUT MORE. Habitats 82–84 • Industry 204 • Trees 94–95

WHAT IS DEFORESTATION?

In well-managed forests, trees are cut down singly

or in strips so that the forest has time to grow back.

However, many of the world’s forests are now being

destroyed by large-scale logging, or deforestation.

As the demand for palm oil grows, palm oil

plantations in Indonesia are fast replacing rainforests

and causing catastrophic damage to ecosystems.

WHAT METHODS ARE USED BY THE

FISHING INDUSTRY?

Modern fishing fleets work both in coastal waters and

far out to sea, using sonar devices to locate shoals of

fish, and a variety of lines, traps, and nets. Different

kinds of floating nets are used to catch fish at the

surface and in mid-waters. Bag-shaped trawl nets,

dragged along the seabed, capture bottom-dwellers.

Forestry is the management of forests with the aim

of harvesting their produce, which includes timber,

fuelwood, charcoal, resin, rubber, and pulp for paper.

Trees also yield food in the form of fruits, nuts, and oils.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN USES OF TIMBER?

Wood is an amazingly versatile material, which can be

put to thousands of different uses. As well as being

burned for fuel, timber is also used in buildings and to

make furniture and tools. Hardwoods, such as teak

and mahogany, are prized for their beautiful grain and

toughness. Fast-growing softwoods, such as pine, are

mainly used for making wood pulp for paper.

WHAT IS OVERFISHING?

Overfishing refers to the decreasing number of fish as

the breeding population are fished faster than they are

replaced. Many overfished species, such as cod, may

eventually die out. Overfishing is happening because

of the demand for fish to feed the world’s population,

and the efficiency of the modern fishing industry.

Fish are an important food, so fishing is a major

industry in many countries. However, overfishing has

resulted in dwindling fish stocks in the world’s oceans.

Fishing

FIND OUT MORE. Endangered Species 124 • Fish 112–113 • Oceans 40–41

1 TUNA FISHING

Frozen tuna are piled up on a harbour side in

Tokyo, Japan. Other commercially fished species

include herring, mackerel, and anchovies. An

incredible 100 million tonnes (98 million tons)

of fish are caught annually, along with other

aquatic life, such as squid, crabs, and prawns.

4 LOGGING INDUSTRY

Mature trees are felled with

chainsaws or giant shearing

blades. The logs are then trucked

or floated downriver to a mill,

where they are sawn into timber

of different lengths. Lumber-

producing countries include

Canada, Russia, and Finland.

Forestry

RUBBER PLANTATION 3

A sticky sap called latex lies

below the bark of rubber trees.

Latex becomes stretchy as it dries

and, when treated, turns into

rubber. Rubber trees are farmed

on large rubber plantations in

countries such as Malaysia (right).

1 THAI FISH FARM
Fish farms, where salmon, trout,
catfish, crayfish, and prawns are
reared in pens, ponds, and cages,
are becoming more important as
the world’s seas are fished out.

Collecting cup

is sometimes

made out of a

halved coconut

Sticky sap,

or latex

oozes out

when the

bark is cut

Logs are

bundled into

rafts to keep

them together

Small boats

keep the

floating logs

on course

Slit is made

at an angle

in the bark

of the tree

forestry

fishing