Importance of forests

Forests and biodiversity are vital to all life forms. The richer the diversity of life, the
greater the opportunity for medical discoveries, economic development, and adaptive
responses to such new challenges as climate change.
Below are some more importance of forests:

Climate Control
Climate control and atmosphere purification are vital to human existence. Trees and
soils help regulate atmospheric temperatures through a process called
evapotranspiration. It helps to stabilize the climate. Additionally, they enrich the
atmosphere by absorbing toxic gases (such as CO2 and other greenhouse gases) and
producing oxygen. Trees also help to remove air pollutants.
Forests absorb the equivalent of roughly 2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

Habitat and Ecosystems

Forests are a home to many species of plants and animals
Forests serve as a home (habitat) to millions of animals. Think of the many types of
reptiles (snakes and lizards), wild animals, butterflies and insects, birds and tree-top
animals, as well as all those that live in the forest streams and rivers.
Animals form part of the food chain in the forests. All these different animals and
plants are called biodiversity, and the interaction with one another and with their
physical environment is what we call an Ecosystem. Healthy ecosystems can better
withstand and recover from a variety of disasters, such as floods and wildfires.

Watershed
Forests serve as a watershed. (A watershed: The area of land that contributes water to
a stream or river. Watersheds come in all sizes—some are millions of square miles,
while others are just a few acres.) That is because almost all water ultimately comes
from rivers and lakes and forest-derived water tables. Some rivers running through
forests are kept cool and from drying out. “The Amazon is by far the largest
watershed and largest river system in the world occupying over 6 million square
kilometers. Over two-thirds of all the fresh water found on Earth is in the Amazon
Basin’s rivers, streams, and tributaries.” – RainTree.
La Mesa is one of the watersheds that we have in the country.

Economic Benefits
Forests are of immense economic importance to us. For example, plantation forests
provide humans with timber and wood, which is exported and used in all parts of the
world. They also provide tourism income to inhabitants (people living in or close to
forests) when people visit to see the best of nature.