The forest: structure and importance

In short: Forests are ecosystems of trees, shrubs, herbs, fungi and animals. They store carbon, filter water and air, protect the soil and offer recreation.

In more detail: In Germany about a third of the land area is forest.

In detail

• Layers: Tree layer, shrub layer, herb layer, moss layer and soil.
• Deciduous and coniferous forest: Beech and oak; spruce and pine.
• Mixed forest: More stable against storms, pests and drought than pure spruce plantations.
• Root networks: Fungi (mycorrhiza) connect trees and exchange nutrients.
• Carbon store: Trees bind CO₂ through photosynthesis (fotosynthese, kohlenstoffkreislauf).
• Deadwood: Habitat for many species.
• Climate change: Drought and bark beetles put forests under stress (klimawandel-grundlagen).
• Behaviour: Stay on paths, take litter with you, mind fire risk in summer (pilze-und-ihre-rolle-in-der-natur).