12 reasons why forests are important

The economic value of the services provided by forests worldwide is estimated at 16.2 trillion dollars. In addition to the supply of clean water and air, these services include numerous indispensable products, including wood (construction, furniture, paper, energy, etc.), resins, fruits, honey, ingredients for medicines, cosmetics, detergents… to name just a few. They also have a role to play in tourism. On top of that, forest are said to create jobs for more than 13 million people. It is also important to note that about a third of the world's population still depends on forests and trees for their daily needs, especially for cooking and heating.

All these animals, plants, fungi and bacteria provide essential services for nature and the survival of mankind. They also hold enormous economic significance.

As a guardian of terrestrial biodiversity, forests are a treasury of medicinal plants and pharmaceutical ingredients. Some 75 % of the most commonly prescribed medicines source their ingredients from forests. Not to mention the healing effects of clean water and air and a healthy walk in the woods. 

A single mature deciduous tree generates enough oxygen for two to ten people. Without oxygen, life as we know it would not be possible. Although the phytoplankton in the oceans accounts for at least half of the world's oxygen, forests thus also play a key role.

Water is better absorbed into the soil thanks to trees and forests which improve groundwater recharge and feed springs and rivers. At high altitudes, cloud forests can extract moisture from fog and clouds.

Normal rainfall patterns are heavily dependent on forests, not only because they massively evaporate water, but also because they emit biological particles such as pollen and fungal spores, which can serve as the nuclei of rain droplets or snowflakes. Coastal forests draw in moist air from neighbouring seas and carry it all the way into the drier inland regions, the effects of which can be felt over thousands of kilometres. Forests are therefore essential in times of climate change, when longer periods of drought occur more frequently.

Under the crests of trees and forests, the temperature is noticeably lower than in open areas or in the city, as trees use solar energy to evaporate moisture, which has a cooling effect. A single tree displays a cooling effect similar to the aircons of two average households. As a result, the surface temperature of forests can be up to 20 degrees cooler than that of buildings or road asphalt.

After oceans, forests are the world’s largest carbon sink. More forests means less CO2 in the air and less global warming. This comes on top of the natural cooling effect of forests (see point 7). Approximately 18 % of current global warming is due to loss of forests.

Floods are less common in areas where forests grow. One reason for this is that, during heavy rainfall, much more water seeps into the soil, instead of flowing directly into the rivers. Mangrove forests protect the coast from tsunamis. Forests also reduce the risk of landslides, avalanches and sand storms.

Thanks to forests and trees, fewer fertile soil particles flow away during precipitation. The roots of trees bring nutrients from the deep soil to the surface, while fallen leaves feed the soil and ground-dwelling animals.

Not only houseplants, but also forests purify the air of pollutants, including carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and fine dust. They can also help purify contaminated soils.

Green makes you happy, and forests even more so. Taking in the atmosphere of a forest calms us down.

Main sources: Department of Economic and Social Affairs Forests en Mother Nature Network