Forest
Forests Increase Access to Clean Drinking Water
Forests provide oxygen, store carbon, and purify water. They filter air and water to remove pollutants and increase biodiversity, which helps ecosystems and habitat thrive. According to a 2012 study, “50% of the earth's biodiversity occurs in forests.” As deforestation increases, so do frequency and severity of floods, drought, forest fires, and water pollution. Natural forests are the largest source for drinking-water supplies, a compelling reason to protect and replenish forests. (Sources: Global Forest Watch, U.S. Forest Service) (Studies: Effect of Deforestation on Access to Clean Drinking Water via PNAS 2019, Background Analytical Study on Forests and Water via United Nations 2018. Forest Conservation Environmental Awareness via Procedia Earth and Planetary Science 2015)
World Forest Data
Basics
Primary Forest, also called Old Growth, is untouched forest that generally consist of trees 120 years or older. Secondary Forest is a forest that has been naturally or unnaturally disturbed. In Coniferous Forests evergreens like pine, fir, and spruce are the principal tree. Deciduous Forests consist primarily of trees that shed their leaves every year. Boreal or Taiga Forests exist in the sub-Arctic zone between latitudes 50° and 60° N, with temperatures ranging between -40° to 68° F, and receiving 15 to 40 inches of precipitation, mostly snow. These forests are found in Siberia, Scandinavia, Alaska, and Canada. Temperate Forests have four distinct seasons and exist on both sides of the hemisphere between latitudes 25° and 50°, with temperatures ranging between -22° to 86° F receive an average of 30 to 60 inches of precipitation annually. Subcategories include Moist or Dry Coniferous, Evergreen or Temperate Broad-Leaved, Mediterranean Forests, and Temperate Broad-Leaved Rainforests. These forests are found in North America, northeastern Asia, and Europe. Tropical Forests exist between latitudes 23.5° and 23.5° S, with average temperatures between 68° and 77° F, receiving at least 80 inches of precipitation annually. Subcategories include Evergreen, Seasonal, Dry, Montane (Cloud Forests), Tropical and Subtropical Coniferous, and Sub-Tropical Forests. These forests are found in South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Global Forest Change
Interactive map published by the University of Maryland.
Forest Protection Organizations
Global Forest Watch
Conservation International
United Nations Forum on Forests
