What is a forest?

A forest is a large area covered chiefly with trees and undergrowth. A forest is a land ecosystem where many trees grow close together. It includes not just trees but also shrubs, herbs, animals, birds, insects and microorganisms living together. 

Forests provide many important functions: they help clean the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen; they protect soil from erosion; they provide habitat for many species; they influence rainfall and climate; they supply wood and non-wood products. 

Forests vary by type (tropical rainforest, temperate forest, boreal forest) and by climate, soil and elevation.

Key characteristics:

• High tree density forming a canopy.
• Rich biodiversity: many species of plants and animals.
• Layered vegetation: ground layer, shrub layer, tree layer.
• Significant role in carbon and water cycles.