World Boreal Forests – Largest Biome Taiga

World Boreal Forests

In the uppermost Northern Hemisphere, North America, Europe, and Asia have significant expanses of land. The boreal forests ring the regions immediately south of the Arctic Circle in a vast expanse that easily rivals the rainforest regions of the world. The northern boreal ecoregion accounts for about one-third of this planet’s total forest area. This … Read more

Capreolus Capreolus – Western Roe Deer

Western Roe Deer

Description Distinguishing Features – Small deer; height: average at shoulder 60 – 70cm. Males larger than females; weight: adults 18 – 29kg. Overall coloration, reddish brown in summer, grey in winter. Distinctive black mustache stripe, white chin. Appears tail-less with white/cream rump patch which is especially conspicuous when its hairs are puffed out when the … Read more

Finland – Forests and Forestry

Finland - Forests and Forestry

Forest resources Finland is Europe’s most heavily-forested country. Forests as defined by the FAO cover 23 million hectares or 74.2% of the land area. In Europe, Finland is a “forest giant”, there being over sixteen times more forest per capita than in European countries on average. Finland’s forests have been intensively harvested over the last … Read more

Lycopodium Obscurum – Ground Pine – Lycopodiaceae (Clubmoss Family)

Ground Pine

Description General – Perennial from extensively rooting, deep creeping rhizomes; stems erect, 7 – 30 cm tall, unbranched towards the base, densely branched above, bushy, tree-like. Leaves – Many, dense, in 6 (sometimes to 8) vertical rows, sharp-pointed, linear-lance-shaped. Spore Clusters – in axils of greenish to yellowish brown, pointed, broadly egg-shaped bracts densely clustered … Read more

Northwestern Ontario Forest – Virtual Zoo: Common Bird Species

Common Bird Species

Click on thumbnailed images for a larger picture and descriptions. Blue Jay Gray Jay “Whiskey Jack” American Robin European Starling Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Ovenbird Cedar Waxwing Pine Grosbeak Black-capped Chickadee Song Sparrow Tree Swallow Pilated Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker Northern Flicker Ruby-throated Hummingbird” Belted Kingfisher Ruffed Grouse “Partridge” Canada Goose Mallard Wood Duck Loon Herring … Read more

Forest Fire Prevention – What You Need to Know

Forest Fire Prevention Guide

Forest fires are dangerous, and we should all take special precautions year-round to make sure fires are not carelessly ignited. Forest fires threaten people needlessly, kill wildlife and destroy forests that provide a livelihood and recreation for millions of people around the world. Grass fires are a major concern for firefighters in early spring; they … Read more

Forest Fires – An Overview | Fire Prevention | Fire Prediction & Analysis | Fire Suppression

Forest Fire

Next to irresponsible forestry practices, forest fires are the most destructive enemy of our forests. How Forest Fires Start Forest fires always start in one of two ways – naturally caused or human-caused. Natural fires are generally started by lightning, with a very small percentage started by spontaneous combustion of dry fuel such as sawdust … Read more