the importance of forests
By zteve t evans
When we think of a forest we usually think of a great mass of tangled trees and vegetation growing vertically. It can be that, yet there are many other different kinds of forest and many definitions. There are also kelp forests that grow under the sea, but this article looks at the different kinds of land forests and their importance to the global ecosystem. We will look at how a forest is defined, the forest community, biodiversity and the forest economy. Then discuss the forest as a storehouse, the forest as the "Earth’s lungs" and as an ecosystem, followed by a look at the different types of forest. Finally we will conclude by looking at human understanding of the forests.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization definition of a forest includes, tree plantations whose main purpose is to supply timber, or wood derived products. It does not include tree plantations grown to supply products such as fruit and coconuts for example and neither does it include agroforestry, urban parks and gardens. Areas of trees of over five hectares are included. Landscapes where there are a substantial number of small patches of forestry in the terrain and small areas of woods, or spinneys, are also included, though they are difficult to identify and monitor, yet can range over significant areas.
The countries with the most areas of forested land are Russia, Brazil, the United States of America and China and these have over half the planet’s forested area. There are ten counties that are devoid of forest and 54 countries have under 10% of their land area that is forested.
The forest community
Trees are the largest and the most easily noticed organisms present in a forest but there are many other plants, insects, animals, birds, and a multitude of micro-organisms that make it such a fertile and productive ecosystem. All these living organisms are dependent on components that are non-living that are also part of the environment. For example water, soil, climate are all abiotic but in the right measures are essential for life to develop and thrive.
There are also the multitude of complex and subtle interrelationships between this great host of organisms of all kinds and sizes. The manner with which they individually and as a whole interact with the abiotic environment to create a productive and self-sustaining ecosystem is truly remarkable. All of this makes a forest a cosmopolitan and diverse community consisting of a vast number of individual organisms.
Biodiversity
Forests are host to the planet’s most significant collections of biodiversity. According to the WFF they contain around 80% of all known terrestrial species and have the largest percentage of threatened species. They cover about 31% of the world’s terrestrial area.
The countries with the most areas of forested land are Russia, Brazil, the United States of America and China and these have over half the planet’s forested area. There are ten counties that are devoid of forest and 54 countries have under 10% of their land area that is forested.
The forest community
Trees are the largest and the most easily noticed organisms present in a forest but there are many other plants, insects, animals, birds, and a multitude of micro-organisms that make it such a fertile and productive ecosystem. All these living organisms are dependent on components that are non-living that are also part of the environment. For example water, soil, climate are all abiotic but in the right measures are essential for life to develop and thrive.
There are also the multitude of complex and subtle interrelationships between this great host of organisms of all kinds and sizes. The manner with which they individually and as a whole interact with the abiotic environment to create a productive and self-sustaining ecosystem is truly remarkable. All of this makes a forest a cosmopolitan and diverse community consisting of a vast number of individual organisms.
Biodiversity
Forests are host to the planet’s most significant collections of biodiversity. According to the WFF they contain around 80% of all known terrestrial species and have the largest percentage of threatened species. They cover about 31% of the world’s terrestrial area.
The forest economy
As well as all the flora, fauna, fungi and micro-organisms that depend on the wellbeing of the forest ecosystems there are also a great number of humans who are also dependant. The forests of the world are home to about 300 million people, with many depending on them for a living in some way. For humans the forests have many benefits and uses and provide much needed materials, including timber from the trees for building and crafts, animals for food and other purposes, grazing, medicinal plants, recreation and a multitude of other materials. In 2005, the world trade in forest products was valued at about $379 billion so the forest economy it is of great economic significance benefitting a great number of people.
Even for people who do not live anywhere near a forest of even live in the middle of a city, forests still impact on their lives, directly or indirectly. Paper and wood products originating from forests are found in all areas of our daily lives no matter how far we live from one as well as less obvious ones such as cosmetics, detergents and medicines. About 1.6 billion people depend on forests to make their living in some way.
The forest storehouse
The forests of the world are great storehouses of important materials and many humans and animals that live locally within and around the edge depend on them for their livelihood so loss of the forested areas affects them directly and quickly. The loss of a single species of plant or animal can have a noticeable effect on the the health of the forest and the wellbeing of humans who depend on the forest ecosystem for a living.
The Earth’s lungs
Forests are often referred to as the Earth’s lungs. During photosynthesis plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air and in return release oxygen into the atmosphere. This helps lockup carbon dioxide into the trees and plants, while also replenishing the air with oxygen. When wood is burnt it releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and when swathes of forest are cut down it removes an oxygen replenishing source for the atmosphere. So although this may be barely noticeable without special equipment it affects far more people than those living locally.
As well as all the flora, fauna, fungi and micro-organisms that depend on the wellbeing of the forest ecosystems there are also a great number of humans who are also dependant. The forests of the world are home to about 300 million people, with many depending on them for a living in some way. For humans the forests have many benefits and uses and provide much needed materials, including timber from the trees for building and crafts, animals for food and other purposes, grazing, medicinal plants, recreation and a multitude of other materials. In 2005, the world trade in forest products was valued at about $379 billion so the forest economy it is of great economic significance benefitting a great number of people.
Even for people who do not live anywhere near a forest of even live in the middle of a city, forests still impact on their lives, directly or indirectly. Paper and wood products originating from forests are found in all areas of our daily lives no matter how far we live from one as well as less obvious ones such as cosmetics, detergents and medicines. About 1.6 billion people depend on forests to make their living in some way.
The forest storehouse
The forests of the world are great storehouses of important materials and many humans and animals that live locally within and around the edge depend on them for their livelihood so loss of the forested areas affects them directly and quickly. The loss of a single species of plant or animal can have a noticeable effect on the the health of the forest and the wellbeing of humans who depend on the forest ecosystem for a living.
The Earth’s lungs
Forests are often referred to as the Earth’s lungs. During photosynthesis plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air and in return release oxygen into the atmosphere. This helps lockup carbon dioxide into the trees and plants, while also replenishing the air with oxygen. When wood is burnt it releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and when swathes of forest are cut down it removes an oxygen replenishing source for the atmosphere. So although this may be barely noticeable without special equipment it affects far more people than those living locally.
The forest ecosystem
The forest ecosystem is an incredibly vast and complex web of organisms and nonliving components all interacting together, individually or in groups and is barely understood by humans. It is not just about what happens in the branches or on the ground. The air, water and underground environment are all crucial for the wellbeing of a forest. For example, it is known that industrial pollution in the UK can be born in the air to forests in Scandinavia and fall as acid rain causing great harm.
What we see above ground, the trees and the foliage, is dependent to the health of the underground part of the forest where the roots delve for water and nutrients and anchor the tree or plant firmly in the ground. What we do not see is that underground is a fine network of fungi which connects many of the trees and plants to each other and is essential for the health of the the forest.
Different types of forest
Three major types of forest biomes are usually recognised. These are coniferous forests, deciduous forests, and tropical rain forests. From these there are many different types of forest and they come in many different sizes. They range from the rainforests of the humid tropical regions to the scrub forests of the drier and more arid regions to the northern taiga or boreal.
Forests grow to suit the landscape and environment. Factors such as soil, water and climate patterns and human influence affect the type of forest that evolves. Forests also develop according to the environment and landscape. Forests can be found around fresh and saltwater, on mountain slopes in the Arctic, in the hot humid conditions of the tropics and many other different places. The types of trees and biodiversity that evolves to make up the forest will be influenced by many factors such as geography, geology and climate, for example.
Human understanding
Humans are only just beginning to guess at the complexities involved in maintaining a healthy forest. The importance they hold for human society is slowly being understood and there is a slowly growing, if reluctant understanding, that humans and the rest of the planet need them in a healthy, and growing state.
© 01/01/2015 zteve t evans
The forest ecosystem is an incredibly vast and complex web of organisms and nonliving components all interacting together, individually or in groups and is barely understood by humans. It is not just about what happens in the branches or on the ground. The air, water and underground environment are all crucial for the wellbeing of a forest. For example, it is known that industrial pollution in the UK can be born in the air to forests in Scandinavia and fall as acid rain causing great harm.
What we see above ground, the trees and the foliage, is dependent to the health of the underground part of the forest where the roots delve for water and nutrients and anchor the tree or plant firmly in the ground. What we do not see is that underground is a fine network of fungi which connects many of the trees and plants to each other and is essential for the health of the the forest.
Different types of forest
Three major types of forest biomes are usually recognised. These are coniferous forests, deciduous forests, and tropical rain forests. From these there are many different types of forest and they come in many different sizes. They range from the rainforests of the humid tropical regions to the scrub forests of the drier and more arid regions to the northern taiga or boreal.
Forests grow to suit the landscape and environment. Factors such as soil, water and climate patterns and human influence affect the type of forest that evolves. Forests also develop according to the environment and landscape. Forests can be found around fresh and saltwater, on mountain slopes in the Arctic, in the hot humid conditions of the tropics and many other different places. The types of trees and biodiversity that evolves to make up the forest will be influenced by many factors such as geography, geology and climate, for example.
Human understanding
Humans are only just beginning to guess at the complexities involved in maintaining a healthy forest. The importance they hold for human society is slowly being understood and there is a slowly growing, if reluctant understanding, that humans and the rest of the planet need them in a healthy, and growing state.
© 01/01/2015 zteve t evans
References and Attributions
Copyright 1st January 2015 zteve t evans
Copyright 1st January 2015 zteve t evans