woods

Woods are areas dominated by trees, typically smaller and more open than forests. The term is regional and somewhat subjective, but it commonly refers to woodland with visible clearings and accessible paths, often embedded in agricultural or urban landscapes.

Tree species vary by region; temperate woods often include oaks, beeches, and maples, with conifers in other climates. The forest floor supports understory plants, fungi, and mosses, while wildlife such as birds, mammals, and insects use the habitat for shelter and food. Woods contribute to ecosystem services including soil stabilization, water regulation, carbon storage, and biodiversity maintenance, especially where structural diversity is maintained.

Human use encompasses recreation, timber, and conservation. Management—such as selective thinning, coppicing, and preserving dead wood—aims to sustain health and habitat value. Woods face threats from deforestation, fragmentation, pests, invasive species, and climate change, but many regions implement restoration and protection programs to maintain ecological and cultural benefits.