What Is a Forest?

To view the photo-rich magazine version, click here.

Originally appears in the Spring 2023 issue.

Content supported by

By Darren Sleep, Ph.D

What is a forest? It’s so much more than a bunch of trees: forests are critical ecosystems. If we think of forests as ecosystems, it’s easier to see how trees and forests influence their environment and how the environment influences trees and forests. 

Students learn in school that everything is connected, from birds, insects, fish, dirt, and trees to our pets, our food, and ourselves. But to really understand how absolutely interconnected all life forms in an ecosystem are, it helps to experience those webs of life first-hand, inside and outside the classroom. 

That’s why a forest is a great place for students to continue learning about ecosystems and how we are all part of larger nature-based systems. Many students live within easy reach of forests, especially if we consider urban forests in our communities.