Forests are our land’s trees and plants that cover a third of the earth’s surface.

There are many

reasons why forests are an important feature for the environment and in our daily lives. Forests are
mainly important because they stabilize climate, regulate the water cycle, and provides habitat to
thousands of life forms. Below are the leading reasons signifying the importance of forest.

Supports Ecosystems and Habitats Forests are habitats to millions of animals and support numerous
ecosystems. About 90% of all earth’s species live in forests. Animals such as lizards, snakes, turtles,
crocodiles, alligators, insects, birds, butterflies and monkeys among other wild animals such as lions
and leopards all live in the forests or within the rivers and streams in forest areas.Therefore, these
animals form their food chains in the forests by interacting with each other in their respective
physical environments which creates an ecosystem. Healthy ecosystems are critical for the
flourishing of the animal lives. Additionally, millions of indigenous people still live in the forests and
depend on them for survival.

Protects Watershed Areas Forests act as watershed regions since, approximately all the water
merely comes from forest-derived water tables and from within the rivers, lakes, and streams in
forest areas. Streams and rivers running through forests are protected from sun’s radiation and
drying by the forest cover.The Amazon, for instance, provides one of the largest watershed and river
systems in the world. Many other forest areas around the globe also serve as significant watershed
areas.

Supports Biodiversity Forests serve as reserves for the genes of biodiversity. This is because forests
carry about 90% of all the earth’s species, both plants and animals, thereby making up a diversity of
plant and animal life forms in the various forest habitats. Forests also support biodiversity by offering
enabling environments where different plants and animals can easily thrive. Forests also support the
life of some of the world’s endangered species.

Purifies the Air Forests play an important role in the purification of the atmospheric air. During the
day, trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and give out oxygen. As such, they
help in the purification of the air that we breathe. Forests thus serve as an instrumental tool for
reducing the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses in the environment which are
responsible for global warming.

Stabilize Climate Forests serve as climate stabilizers since trees and plants regulate atmospheric
temperatures through evapotranspiration and proving environmental breeze. In urban settings, for
instance, the presence of trees can reduce the dependence of air conditioners. Large forests regulate
regional temperatures by absorbing the sun’s radiant heat and promote rainfall as well as cool
climate as an effect of evapotranspiration.