19 Reasons Why Forests Are Important Forests cover nearly a third of all land on
Earth, providing vital organic infrastructure for some of the planet's densest, most diverse
collections of life. They support countless species, including our own, yet we often seem
oblivious of that. Humans now clear millions of acres from natural forests every year,
especially in the tropics, letting deforestation threaten some of Earth's most valuable ecosystems.
We tend to take forests for granted, underestimating how indispensable they still are for everyone
on the planet. That would quickly change if they all disappeared, but since humanity might
not survive that scenario, the lesson wouldn't be very useful by then. As the Once-ler finally
realizes in Dr. Seuss' "The Lorax," a crisis like deforestation depends on indifference.
"UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot," Seuss wrote, "Nothing is going to get
better. It's not." Indifference, in turn, often depends on ignorance.
So to help things get better for woodlands around the world, we'd all be wise to learn
more about the benefits of forests — and to share that knowledge with others. In hopes
of shedding more light on what forests do for us, and how little we can afford to lose
them, here are 20 reasons why forests are so important.
1. They Help Us Breathe Forests pump out oxygen we need to live and
absorb the carbon dioxide we exhale (or emit). A single mature, leafy tree is estimated to
produce a day's supply of oxygen for anywhere from two to 10 people. Phytoplankton in the
ocean are more prolific, providing half of Earth's oxygen, but forests are still a key
source of quality air. 2. They Are Home to Nearly Half of All Species
Nearly half of Earth's known species live in forests, including nearly 80% of biodiversity
on land. That variety is especially rich in tropical rainforests, but forests teem with
life around the planet: Insects and worms work nutrients into soil, bees and birds spread
pollen and seeds, and keystone species like wolves and big cats keep hungry herbivores
in check. Biodiversity is a big deal, both for ecosystems and human economies, yet it's
increasingly threatened around the world by deforestation.
3. Including Millions of Humans Some 300 million people live in forests worldwide,
including an estimated 60 million indigenous people whose survival depends almost entirely
on native woodlands. Many millions more live along or near forest fringes, but even just
a scattering of urban trees can raise property values and reduce crime, among other benefits.
4. They Keep Us Cool By growing a canopy to hog sunlight, trees
also create vital oases of shade on the ground. Urban trees help buildings stay cool, reducing
the need for electric fans or air conditioners, while large forests can tackle daunting tasks
like curbing a city's "heat island" effect or regulating regional temperatures.
5. They Keep Earth Cool Trees also have another way to beat the heat:
absorb CO2 that fuels global warming. Plants always need some CO2 for photosynthesis, but
Earth's air is now so thick with extra emissions that forests fight global warming just by
breathing. CO2 is stored in wood, leaves and soil, often for centuries.
6. They Make It Rain Large forests can influence regional weather
patterns and even create their own microclimates. The Amazon rainforest, for example, generates
atmospheric conditions that not only promote regular rainfall there and in nearby farmland,
but potentially as far away as the Great Plains of North America.
7. They Prevent Flooding Tree roots are key allies in heavy rain, especially
for low-lying areas like river plains. They help the ground absorb more of a flash flood,
reducing soil loss and property damage by slowing the flow.
8. They Soak Up Runoff, Protecting Other Ecosystems On top of flood control, soaking up surface
runoff also protects ecosystems downstream. Modern stormwater increasingly carries toxic
chemicals, from gasoline and lawn fertilizer to pesticides and pig manure, that accumulate
through watersheds and eventually create low-oxygen "dead zones."
9. They Refill Aquifers Forests are like giant sponges, catching runoff
rather than letting it roll across the surface, but they can't absorb all of it. Water that
gets past their roots trickles down into aquifers, replenishing groundwater supplies that are
important for drinking, sanitation and irrigation around the world.
10. They Block Wind Farming near a forest has lots of benefits,
like bats and songbirds that eat insects or owls and foxes that eat rats. But groups of
trees can also serve as a windbreak, providing a buffer for wind-sensitive crops. And beyond
protecting those plants, less wind also makes it easier for bees to pollinate them.
11. They Keep Dirt in Its Place A forest's root network stabilizes huge amounts
of soil, bracing the entire ecosystem's foundation against erosion by wind or water. Not only
does deforestation disrupt all that, but the ensuing soil erosion can trigger new, life-threatening
problems like landslides and dust storms. 12. They Clean Up Dirty Soil
In addition to holding soil in place, forests may also use phytoremediation to clean out
certain pollutants. Trees can either sequester the toxins away or degrade them to be less
dangerous. This is a helpful skill, letting trees absorb sewage overflows, roadside spills
or contaminated runoff. 13. They Clean Up Dirty Air
Forests can clean up air pollution on a large scale, and not just CO2. Trees absorb a wide
range of airborne pollutants, including carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.
In the U.S. alone, urban trees are estimated to save 850 lives per year and $6.8 billion
in total health care costs just by removing pollutants from the air.
14. They Muffle Noise Pollution Sound fades in forests, making trees a popular
natural noise barrier. The muffling effect is largely due to rustling leaves — plus
other woodland white noise, like bird songs — and just a few well-placed trees can cut
background sound by 5 to 10 decibels, or about 50% as heard by human ears.
15. They Feed Us Not only do trees produce fruits, nuts, seeds
and sap, but they also enable a cornucopia near the forest floor, from edible mushrooms,
berries and beetles to larger game like deer, turkeys, rabbits and fish.
16. They Help Us Make Things Where would humans be without timber and resin?
We've long used these renewable resources to make everything from paper and furniture
to homes and clothing, but we also have a history of getting carried away, leading to
overuse and deforestation. Thanks to the growth of tree farming and sustainable forestry,
though, it's becoming easier to find responsibly sourced tree products.
17. They Create Jobs More than 1.6 billion people rely on forests
to some extent for their livelihoods, according to the U.N., and 10 million are directly employed
in forest management or conservation. Forests contribute about 1% of the global gross domestic
product through timber production and non-timber products, the latter of which alone support
up to 80% of the population in many developing countries.
18. They Create Majesty Natural beauty may be the most obvious and
yet least tangible benefit a forest offers. The abstract blend of shade, greenery, activity
and tranquility can yield concrete advantages for people, however, like convincing us to
appreciate and preserve old-growth forests for future generations.
19. They Help Us Explore and Relax Our innate attraction to forests, part of
a phenomenon known as biophilia, is still in the relatively early stages of scientific
explanation. We know biophilia draws us to woods and other natural scenery, though, encouraging
us to rejuvenate ourselves by exploring, wandering or just unwinding in the wilderness. They
give us a sense of mystery and wonder, evoking the kinds of wild frontiers that molded our
distant ancestors. And thanks to our growing awareness that spending time in forests is
good for our health, many people now seek out those benefits with the Japanese practice
of shinrin-yoku, commonly translated to English as "forest bathing."