Forest
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Media:Example.ogg--198.96.223.190 02:52, 24 Jan 2005 (UTC)Media:Example.ogglink titlelink titleLink titleLink titleItalic text:This article is about forests as a massing of trees. For other uses of the word, see Forest (disambiguation).
A forest is an area with a high density of trees (or, historically, an area set aside for hunting). Forests can be found in all regions capable of sustaining tree growth, at altitudes up to the tree-line, except where rainfall is too low, or natural fire frequency too high. Forests generally contain a large number of different tree species growing to different heights, combined with an understory, which makes efficient use of sunlight. A forest in its natural form is home to many animal and plant species, and biomass per unit area is high compared to most other biomes.
In ecological terms, a forest may be differentiated from a woodland: a forest is considered to have a more or less closed canopy, where the branches and foliage of trees meet or interlock; a woodland is considered to have an open canopy, where some sunlight penetrates between the trees (see also: savanna).
Numerous types of forests exist. Among the ecological types are:
- rain forest (tropical and temperate)
- taiga
- temperate hardwood forest
- tropical dry forest
The science of studying and managing forests, with a goal of sustainable extraction, is called forestry. Ecologists study forests.
See also
- List of forests
- Forests in the United Kingdom
- Forests of Sweden
- Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
- Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests
- Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests
- Temperate coniferous forests
- Rainforest
- Jungle (terrain)
- prescribed burn
- shifting cultivation
- deforestation
- reforestation
- logging
- Illegal logging
- Ecological succession
- Royal forest