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What a forest is; Different types of forest; Why forests are important; How we can protect and conserve forests; This resource is suitable for Landscapes topics for primary school learners.
Why forests matter for nature. As forests are home to over 80% of terrestrial biodiversity, including 80% of amphibians, 75% of birds and 68% of mammals. Deforestation of some tropical forests could lead to the loss of as many as 100 species a day.
- Help Us Breathe
- Home to Nearly Half of All Species
- Benefit Millions of Humans
- Keep Us Cool
- Keep Earth Cool
- Make It Rain
- Prevent Flooding
- Soak Up Runoff, Protecting Other Ecosystems
- Refill Aquifers
- Block Wind
Forests pump out the oxygen we need to live and absorb the carbon dioxide we exhale (emit). A single mature, leafy tree is estimated to produce a day's supply of oxygen for anywhere from two to 10 people. Phytoplankton in the ocean are more prolific, providing half of Earth's oxygen, but forests are still a key source of quality air.
Nearly half of Earth's known species live in forests, including nearly 80% of biodiversity on land. That variety is especially rich in tropical rainforests, but forests around the planet teem with life; insects and worms work nutrients into soil, bees and birds spread pollen and seeds, and keystone species like wolves and big cats keep hungry herbi...
Some 300 million people live in forests worldwide, including an estimated 60 million indigenous people whose survival depends almost entirely on native woodlands. Many millions more live along or near forest fringes, but even just a scattering of urban trees can provide benefits to humans, such as increased property values and reduced crime.
By growing a canopy to hog sunlight, trees also create vital oases of shade on the ground. Urban trees help buildings stay cool, reducing the need for electric fans or air conditioners, while large forests tackle daunting tasks like curbing a city's "heat island" effect or regulating regional temperatures.
Trees also have another way to beat the heat—absorb CO2 that fuels global warming. Plants always need some CO2 for photosynthesis, but Earth's air is now so thick with extra emissions that forests fight global warmingjust by breathing. CO2 is stored in wood, leaves, and soil, often for centuries.
Large forests can influence regional weather patterns and even create their own microclimates. The Amazon rainforest, for example, generates atmospheric conditions that not only promote regular rainfall in that forest and nearby farmland but potentially as far away as the Great Plains of North America.
Tree roots are our allies in heavy rainfall, especially when it rains in low-lying areas like river plains. They help the ground absorb more of a flash flood, reducing soil loss and property damage by slowing the flow.
In addition to controlling flooding, trees' ability to soak up surface runoff also protects ecosystems downstream. Modern stormwater increasingly carries toxic chemicals, from gasoline and lawn fertilizer to pesticides and pig manure, that accumulate through watersheds and eventually create low-oxygen "dead zones."
Forests are like giant sponges, catching runoff rather than letting it roll across the surface. But they can't absorb all of it. Water that gets past their roots trickles down into aquifers, replenishing groundwater supplies that are important for drinking, sanitation, and irrigation around the world.
Farming near a forest provides many benefits, such as bats and songbirds who come out of their forest home to eat insects that threaten crops. Owls and foxes that live in forests also often venture out to eat rats on farms. But forests can also serve as a windbreak for farmers, providing a buffer for wind-sensitive fruits and vegetables. And beyond...
- Forests provide essential resources. Forests provide many of the resources that we use in our daily lives. Just look around your house – how many things are made from wood or other forest products?
- Are a haven of biodiversity. Forests are so much more than a bunch of trees! From orangutans swinging in the treetops to ants marching along the forest floor, these complex ecosystems are full of life.
- Support jobs. Forests also provide employment and generate income for millions of people worldwide. Many types of jobs depend on forests and their resources, from loggers and construction workers to trekking guides and forest rangers.
- Sustain rural livelihoods. While we all depend on forests in one way or another, it is estimated that about 350 million people around the world live within or near to forests and are highly dependent on them for their livelihoods.
Forests provide a multitude of benefits that are crucial for the health of our planet and the well-being of its inhabitants. Beyond their critical role in carbon storage, forests serve as vital shields against extreme weather conditions, such as storms and floods.
Why are forests so important? Forests aren’t just full of trees – they're teeming with all kinds of life. In fact, they’re home to an enormous 80% of the world’s land-based animals, insects and plant species, and around 300 million people.
2 days ago · A forest is a complex ecological system in which trees are the dominant life-form. A forest is nature’s most efficient ecosystem, with a high rate of photosynthesis affecting both plant and animal systems in a series of complex organic relationships.
