ecosystemsforests

Forest ecosystems are dynamic, living systems characterized by trees and associated plants, soils, water, and a diverse array of animals and microbes. They occur in tropical, temperate, boreal, and montane regions and range from dense rainforests to open woodlands. Forest ecosystems provide habitat, regulate climate and hydrology, and store substantial carbon, contributing to global biogeochemical cycles.

The structure of a forest ecosystem includes the canopy, understory, forest floor, and root zone, hosting a wide range of life from mosses to large mammals. Energy enters via photosynthesis by trees and understory plants, then moves through food webs that include fungi, bacteria, herbivores, and predators. Nutrient cycling, especially of nitrogen and phosphorus, is mediated by decomposition and mycorrhizal associations.

Key ecosystem services encompass biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, soil formation, erosion control, water purification, and cultural or recreational values. Forests influence local climate through shading, evapotranspiration, and albedo, and they provide raw materials and medicines in many regions.

Threats to forest ecosystems include deforestation, fragmentation, unsustainable logging, invasive species, and climate change, which can alter disturbance regimes and species distributions. Management approaches emphasize conservation corridors, sustainable forestry, restoration, and the integration of Indigenous and local knowledge. Monitoring—via field plots and remote sensing—supports adaptive management and long-term stewardship.