Forestsand
Forestsand is a term used in ecological literature to describe forested landscapes where sandy soils predominate. It refers to the combination of forest vegetation and a sandy soil texture, typically with low nutrients, high drainage, and a thin organic layer. The term is descriptive rather than a formal taxonomic category and emphasizes interactions among vegetation, soil, and hydrology that differ from loamy or clay-rich forest soils.
Forestsand systems occur in coastal dune forests, inland sand belts, and xeric woodland zones. Soils are coarse
Flora and fauna are adapted to drought and nutrient limitation. Trees such as certain pines and oaks
Ecological processes include slower nutrient cycling, reliance on deep rooting, and important mycorrhizal associations. Fire, wind,
Conservation and management focus on erosion control, protection of surface organic matter, and safeguarding native sandy-forest
In research, forestsand is used to study how sandy soils influence forest structure, carbon storage, and resilience