A forest is vegetation (planting or spontaneous vegetation) with trees in a dominant tree layer, or multiple tree layers.
Depending on the dominant growth forms and sizes of vegetation, vegetation layers can be distinguished: the moss layer, herb layer, shrub layer and the ever-present tree layer (or tree layers). Not all layers are always present in the vegetation, or equally present. There may be undergrowth of mosses, herbs and/or shrubs, and the soil may be rich in fungi. Trunks, branches and leaves may also serve as substrate for epiphytic plants, lichens and other fungi.
There are many definitions of what a forest is because there are many forest types in the world, and because humans want to express many different uses of the forest. Elements of the definitions include abundance, tree height, minimum area (e.g., 0.5 ha) and canopy cover (ranging from a minimum of 10% to a minimum of 60% in different definitions)[1][2].
Natural European forests originally contained large grazers such as wisent, aurochs, tarpan, red deer and moose, which kept sites open until thickets with spiny or thorny shrubs such as hawthorn, blackthorn, roses and bramble emerged. Animals such as jays or squirrels provided dispersal of seeds and fruits (such as acorns) by hiding them at the edges of forests as winter food. The fruits and seeds left behind could germinate and form the beginnings of new trees.
Modern forest management often means converting production forest to more natural (undisturbed or little human-influenced) mixed forest with native deciduous trees.
My name is Anne.
I regularly go out with my camera. I do so with great pleasure and always find gifts appearing on my screen.
This I want to share!..
Read more…