lehtimetsiä

Lehtimetsä is a type of boreal forest ecosystem that is found in subarctic and temperate regions of the world, including parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. The term lehtimetsä is Finnish in origin and can be translated to "leaf forest" in English.

Lehtimetsä forests are characterized by a dense canopy of deciduous tree species, such as birch, aspen, and beech, which produce broad leaves year-round. The understory is often dominated by shrubs, ferns, and other herbaceous plants, and the forest floor is often covered in a layer of leaf litter and mosses.

One of the defining features of lehtimetsä forests is their relatively low density of coniferous tree species, which are often relegated to the edges or gaps in the forest canopy. This is in contrast to other boreal forest types, such as taiga, which are dominated by coniferous species.

Lehtimetsä forests are considered one of the most productive forest types in the world, and they play an important role in the regional ecosystem. They provide habitat for a variety of plant and animal species, and they also contribute to the local hydrological cycle by storing and filtering water.

Lehtimetsä forests are often found in areas with high levels of humidity and moderate to high levels of precipitation, and they are typically characterized by a cool, temperate climate. Human activities such as deforestation and logging have had a significant impact on lehtimetsä forests in the past, but conservation efforts are underway to protect these ecosystems and their associated biodiversity.