How forests are important to the planet

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.

Garibaldi Provincial Park, British Columbia -
Author: TheSimkin (talk · contribs) - Public Domain

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.  Read more