Short Note on Forest

Introduction

A forest is defined as a compound ecosystem containing mostly woods that act as a barrier between the soil and various living things. The woods contribute to creating a distinctive ecosystem, which impacts the kinds of creatures and herbs that may inhabit in forest. Forests play an important role in Mother Nature. They purify the air, chill it when it’s hot, conserving heat during night, and are very good noise absorbers.

Forests may grow when the mean temperature is above 10 degrees Celsius in the hottest month, and the yearly rain surpasses 200 millimeters. There are a variety of tree species in any place with circumstances beyond this range, which are categorized into several forest categories that are defined by the unique characteristics of the habitat there, such as the soil, climate, biotic activity, and zoology. 

Forest Ecosystem

An ecosystem is a working unit that includes soil, animals, trees, insects, birds, and human beings as interacting parts. As a forest is a vast and compound ecosystem, its species diversity is greater.

Furthermore, it is far more stable and resistant to harmful changes than tiny ecosystems such as marshes and grasslands.

An ecosystem of forest is made up of both biotic and abiotic parts. Inorganic elements such as air, water, and soil are examples of abiotic components. Producers, decomposers, and consumers are examples of biotic components. In an ecosystem, these components interact with one another, allowing the ecosystem to self-sustain.

Type of Forests

There are majorly 3 kinds of forests – temperate, tropical and boreal forest. They are differentiated conforming to latitude. These types are classified again into more specific groups.

• Tropical Forests

Tropical rainforests can be found between the latitudes of 23.50 North and 23.50 South. The temperature in these woodlands fluctuate between 680 and 770 Fahrenheit. Tropical rainforests have the greatest species variety of any habitat on the planet. They don’t have winter and typically receive a hundred inches of rain every year—hardwoods, which may reach heights of 82 to 115 feet, dominate tropical rainforests. Vine, fern, moss, palms and orchids are among other vegetation types. Because of the densely grown trees that form a high canopy, the sun barely penetrates the lowest areas of forest. As a result, most species that live in tropical rainforests have evolved to dwell in trees.

Different groups of tropical forests consist: 

• Evergreen Tropical: There is no dry season in evergreen forests because it rains all year.
• Seasonal Tropical: They contain evergreen foliage and a small dry season.
• Dry Tropical: Dry forests have extended dry season in which trees drop leaves 
• Montane: Also called Cloud forests as these forests get most of their precipitation from fog or mist rising from the wetlands.
• Tropical and subtropical coniferous Forest: These kinds of forests have a warm and dry climate, with conifers adapted to swapping weather.
• Sub-tropical Forest: Tropical forests are found to the south and north of subtropical forests. The trees in this area have evolved to withstand summer drought.
• Temperate Forests

Temperate forests are again classified into 2 categories:

Temperate deciduous 

1. Temperate coniferous 

• Temperate Deciduous 

Temperate deciduous trees are found in Japan, Western Europe, China, sections of Russia, and Canada. They have four different seasons and receive precipitation all year.

In the spring, summer, and fall, precipitation falls in the form of rainfall. In the winter, it snows. Annual rainfall in temperate deciduous woods ranges from 30 to 60 inches. And the soil is quite fruitful.

• Temperate Coniferous 

This type of forest is typically located around coastlines with warm winters and copious rainfall. They can also be found in in-land mountains type of places with warm weather.

Due to high precipitation levels, temperate coniferous woods have a wet environment and a long growing season. Each year, the woodlands get between fifty and two-hundred inch of rainfall. Soils are usually rich in decaying stuff due to a wide layer of decomposing matter.

• Boreal Forests

Boreal woods, also called Taiga forests, are found between latitudes 500 and 600 N. They are found in Siberia, Northern Asia, and Scandinavia Canada. It is worth mentioning that Scandinavia is home to around sixty-five percent of its boreal forests.

Small summers and lengthy winters define taiga woods. They receive between fifteen and forty inches of rainfall each year, the maximum of which falls as snow. Because of the freezing temperatures that slow decomposition, the soil in these woods is typically thin.

The majority of woods in Boreal Forest is evergreen. Pine and fir are examples of trees. Because of the thick canopy, the detritus contains little flora.

The animals in these woodlands have thick coats and are accustomed to the long, harsh winters. You may expect to see deer, elk, caribou, snowshoe hare, lynxes, moose and wolves.

Conclusion

Forests are huge regions of trees that cover around 1/3rd of the earth’s surface. The advantages of forests to their people and the diversity of human beings on the planet are limitless. As a result, forests must be preserved against deforestation and other negative impacts of human advancement