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Explore more key stage 2 geography lessons from the Local and global: why are trees and forests important? unit , dive into the full primary geography curriculum , or learn more about lesson planning .

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Mapping changes in forests around the world KS2 | Y5 Geography Lesson Resources | Oak National Academy

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Global biomes guide for KS3 geography students - BBC Bitesize

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Biomes are large ecosystems, such as deserts and boreal forests. Learn about biomes in this geography guide for students aged 11 to 14 from BBC Bitesize.

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1. UNECE

2. Forests

Boreal Forests

Boreal Forests in the UNECE region

Boreal forests, also known as Taiga, circle the Northern Hemisphere to form a ring around the North Pole. They are part of the largest terrestrial biome, accounting for 27% of the world’s total forest area. The Russian Federation, Canada, and the United States account for the majority (93%) of the global boreal forest area.

Although boreal forests grow more slowly on average than their temperate and tropical counterparts, together with their soils and peatlands, they form the largest terrestrial carbon storehouse on earth. Boreal forests shelter a distinctive biodiversity system including iconic wildlife species such as wild forest reindeer, wolverine, lynx, beaver, brown bear and the Siberian tiger. They also provide essential products and services and secure the livelihoods of many rural and indigenous communities.

In short: they are crucial for sustainable development in the entire boreal region and beyond.

UNECE/FAO unite scientists and policymakers through a dedicated Team of Specialists on Boreal Forests. Find out more information about their work here.

Events on boreal forests:

The science and policy of wildfires in the boreal biome, International Boreal Forest Research Association (IBFRA) Conference, 20 August 2021.

Snapshot on Boreal forests' contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in the UNECE region, 15 March 2021. Watch the recording in English and Russian.

Resources

Infographic on Boreal Forests and Climate Change

Communications note "Why boreal forests matter - the role of boreal forests in sustainable development"

News release "Living with fire in the boreal biome", 23 August 2021

International Boreal Forest Research Association

Mission

Executive Secretary

Organizational Structure

Vacancies

Internship Programme

Statistical Database

Evaluations

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Boreal forests, also known as Taiga, circle the Northern Hemisphere to form a ring around the North Pole. They are part of the largest terrestrial biome, accounting for 27% of the world’s total forest area. The Russian Federation, Canada, and the United States account for the majority (93%) of the g…

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Cloud Forests are a spectacular type of rainforest found at high altitudes, spanning 4 continents from Costa Rica to Australia

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Looking down from Phuyupatamarca on the Inca Trail, into a cloud forest where a silver river winds through the lush green jungle and clouds.

Cloud Forests (montane rainforests) refer to the vegetation of tropical mountainous regions where there is heavy rainfall and persistent condensation resulting from the cooling of the moisture being pushed upwards by the mountains. They are usually characterized by a persistent, frequent and seasonal low-lying layer of mist and cloud cover usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests are rare since the exceptional conditions that create these forests are only found in tropical areas with tall mountains.

Contents:

Location Of Cloud Forests

Due to their unique characteristics, cloud forests are usually found along the sides of the mountains at elevations of between 3000 and 10000 feet but as low as 1650 feet in the Tropics between coordinates 23°N and 23°S. Only 1% of the global woodlands are considered as cloud forests following a decline from 11% in the 1970s due to interferences by human activities and global warming. Areas where these forests form include southern Mexico, Africa, Southeast Asia, Madagascar, Central America, the Caribbean, New Guinea and South America. The World Conservation Monitoring Centre has identified 736 cloud forests distributed in 59 countries. Of these 327 have been classified as protected areas since 2002.

Factors Needed For The Growth Of Cloud Forests

The presence of cloud forests is dependent on the local climatic conditions which are influenced by distance to the sea, the exposition, elevation from the sea level, and latitude coordinates. Beyond these natural conditions, there are small bands of elevations in which the atmospheric conditions are suitable for the formation of cloud forests. These conditions are characterized by persistent fog at the vegetation level resulting in the reduction of direct sunlight hence evapotranspiration takes place. Although not universally accepted as true cloud forests, temperate cloud forests can occur at such elevations in temperate regions.

The Hydrological Cycle

The layer of clouds and mist occurring in cloud forests form through the evaporation of water forming warm air masses. The air mass is carried upwards by the wind currents until it strikes the sides of the mountain and are deflected upwards due to the naturally sloping land. As the air masses rise towards the mountains, they begin to cool. The moisture in the air masses condenses and begins to cool forming clouds and mist. Forests that exist within these unique conditions tend to be different form forests in lower elevations

Characteristics Of Cloud Forests

Cloud forests form an ecosystem characterized by dense forests and shorter trees, coupled with increased stem density and a lower diversity of woody plants. The trees here are generally shorter and their leaves become thicker, harder, and smaller as the altitude increases.

The diffuse light, high humidity, and crooked tree trunks with twisting branches provide a conducive environment for the growth of epiphytic plants. The most famous of the epiphytes include orchids which adorn the tress with flowers of every shape color, and size, lichens, ferns, bromeliads, and bryophytes. The tree crowns intercept the wind driven cloud moisture, which drops in the form of fog. Fog drips usually occur when water droplets cling to the needle-shaped leaves and accumulate to large drops that drop to the ground, thus contributing to the hydrological cycle.

As natural water towers, cloud forests provide fresh and clean water to billions of people around the continents where they are found. By taking up the mist that forms above their canopies, they release this moisture gradually into small creeks that feed streams and the rivers. Even though rains are highly seasonal, these misty covers feed the tropical waterways. During heavy storms, the forest topography prevents the occurrence of mudslides that would cause extensive destruction of the ecosystem.

Soil acidity in cloud forests is high due to the high-water content present in the soil, reduced sunlight, and slow rate of decomposition and mineralization. A layer of humus and mulch usually forms in the upper layer of the soil to control runoff during high precipitation. Annual rainfall within the cloud forest regions ranges from 500 to 10,000 mm/year and the mean temperatures averaging 46- and 68-degrees Fahrenheit.

Difference Between Cloud Forests And Rainforests

Oftentimes, the definition of cloud forests can be ambiguous with most countries adopting the terms Afromontane and upper montane rain forests to refer to these ecosystems. As such there is a confusion between rainforests and cloud forests. The two are different ecosystems where rainforests refer to tropical forests with an annual rainfall of 100 inches with trees forming a canopy. Cloud forests are a type of rainforests but with altitudes higher than 3000 feet and characterized by an overwhelming number of epiphytes among the large trees. The distinguishing characteristics are the elevations at which each ecosystem thrives and the cloud over found in the cloud forests.

Flora And Fauna Of Cloud Forests

Cloud forests are rich biodiversity areas rich in flora and fauna that in some cases are unique to these ecosystems. In the south of Venezuela, the forests accommodate shrubs orchids, and insectivorous plants that are restricted to this mountain. The canopies provide a home to epiphytic plants including bromeliads, aroids, and ferns. Some of the epiphytic plants begin their lives a seed deposited on top of other trees in the canopy and grow to become full-sized trees.

The abundance of flowering plants in the upper reaches of these ecosystems provide a habitat with a wide range of fruits, nesting sites for birds, hollow tree cavities where large larger mammals breed, and water pockets that act as breeding grounds for tadpoles. Begonias and herbaceous plants many grow to exceptionally large size where there are clearings.

These forests are home to over 270 species of frogs, birds and mammals. The Spectacled Bear is one of the mammals that is found in cloud forests. There are large flocks of gaudily-decorates tanagers that flit across the slopes in search fruits. The hummingbird, ochre-fronted antpitta, and the rare long-whiskered owlet are present in these ecosystems and are classified as threatened species. They also harbor the endangered yellow tailed wooly monkey and the long--imbed salamander that preys upon shredding invertebrates hence maintaining the forest's carbon cycle.

The Geoffrey's Spider monkey, considered as the third most intelligent nonhuman primate, is endemic to cloud forests. This species has an incredible mental capacity that allows it to recognize and remember the different fruits in the forests and their exact locations. Jaguars are also widely spread in the Central American cloud forest undergrowth and usually hunt the spider monkeys. Generally, a mutualistic relationship exists among the fauna and flora of cloud forests hence forming a rich tapestry of life that continues to diversify over the years.

Threats To Cloud Forests

Cloud forests represent a rare and fragile ecosystem that is under threat in many parts of the world. In the 1970s, the extent of cloud forests is believed to have been approximately 50 million hectares. Exponential population growth, poverty, and uncontrolled land use over the decades are attributed to the decline of these ecosystems. Based on a research conducted by the Global Forest Survey in 1990, it is approximated that 1.1% of the tropical and highland cloud forests are lost each year. In countries like Colombia, one of the countries with extensive covers of rain forests have lost close to 80% of these ecosystems to deforestation to pave way for human settlements, logging, and infrastructural developments.

Another major threat to the existence of cloud forests is the impact of climate change. Since they are heavily reliant on local climates, the current global climate change which has affected the water tables is likely to lower the amount of evaporation required for the formation of the clouds. As a result of the destruction of the ozone layer, increased temperatures inhibit the condensation of water evaporate forms the mist and fog over the canopies. It is estimated that in the next 70 years, the extent of environmentally suitable areas for the formation of cloud forests in countries like Mexico will be completely lost.

Linked to the reduced cloud cover, the hydrological cycle will change leading to the drying out of the system. This will result to wilting and loss of epiphytes, which are heavily dependent on humidity. Vertebrates' dominant to this region will become extinct due to increased drought and loss their natural habitats. Hurricanes are likely to increase thus damaging the tropical montane cloud forests, loss of biodiversity, altitude shifts and a complete loss of the cloud cover in some regions.

Conservation Efforts

Under the UN Environmental Program World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 327 cloud forests have been classified as protected areas to help protect and conserve these ecosystems. The Andean cloud forests in particular are a top priority for biodiversity conservation due to the endemic plant and animal species found within their ecosystems.

Due to the unique conditions under which these forests thrive, it is difficult to replicate them in artificial habitats. It is expensive to maintain high temperatures and high humidity without attracting algae and fungi. However, botanical gardens in Singapore and San Francisco have tried to imitate the natural conditions of cloud forests hence promoting growth of plants including ferns orchids, and clubmosses.

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Cloud Forests (montane rainforests) refer to the vegetation of tropical mountainous regions where there is heavy rainfall and persistent condensation resulting from the cooling of the moisture being pushed upwards by the mountains. They are usually characterized by a persistent, frequent and seasonal low-lying layer of mist and cloud cover usually at the canopy level.

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What is a cloud forest? The misty forests of the mountains

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Learn what a cloud forest is, why they’re important and why they’re at risk in this kids’ article with vocabulary and comprehension questions

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Kids learn about the taiga forest biome. The largest of the land biomes is known for its evergreen trees.

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Location | Weather | Plants | Animals | People | Links

LOCATION: Taiga, also known as coniferous or boreal forest, is the largest terrestrial biome on earth. It extends in a broad band across North America, Europe, and Asia to the southern border of the arctic tundra. It is also found at cool, high elevations in the more temperate latitudes, for example, in much of the mountainous western region of North America. Much of the taiga in North America was once covered with glaciers. As the glaciers receded, cuts and depressions were left in the landscape that have since filled with rain creating lakes and bogs.

WEATHER: Long, cold winters, and short, mild, wet summers are typical of this region. In the winter, chilly winds from the arctic cause bitterly cold weather in the taiga. The length of day also varies with the seasons. Winter days are short, while summer days are long because of the tilt of the earth on its axis. Fire is not uncommon in the taiga during the summer. Fires may seem destructive, but they actually help this biome by removing old sick trees, making room for new growth. Precipitation is relatively high in the taiga and falls as snow during the winter and rain during the summer. The total yearly precipitation in the taiga biome is 10 - 30 inches (25 - 75 cm).

PLANTS: Compared to other biomes, the taiga has less diversity in plant life. The most common type of tree found in the taiga is the conifer, or cone-bearing tree. Conifers, also known as evergreens, include pines, spruces and firs. There may also occasionally be deciduous species present, such as oak, birch, willow, or alder, in a particularly wet or disturbed area. The soil in the taiga is thin, acidic and not very nutrient rich. It also is rocky. Due to these factors, plants in the taiga have different adaptations than the plants we find around Santa Barbara.

The< name, evergreen, describes an important adaptation of conifers. Just like Kermit, they are always green! Because they don't drop their leaves in the winter, they don't have to regrow them in the spring. This is good for trees in a tough environment because growing new leaves takes a lot of energy. Another adaptation of conifers to live in the taiga has to do with their needles. Although the taiga has moderately high precipitation, the frozen winter ground makes it difficult for trees to get water. Having thin needles with a waxy coating limits water loss of the conifer through transpiration. The dark color of the pine needles is also important. What happens when you where a dark T-shirt on a sunny day? You get hot, right? This is because your dark shirt is absorbing energy from the sun. Well, the dark needles do the same thing for the evergreen. They help the tree absorb the maximum amount of energy from the sun for photosynthesis. Conifers also have that pointy shape for a good reason. The winter snow slides right off of their branches. Without this shape the heavy snow might break or damage the conifer branches.

ANIMALS: The cold climate of the taiga makes it a difficult place for many animals to live. Many have thick coats of fur to insulate against the cold, and some hibernate. Others migrate to warmer areas in the chilly winters. Animal populations are mainly seed-eating squirrels and jays; small mammals like ermine and moles; and larger browsing animals such as deer, moose, elk, and snowshoe hare. The bogs and ponds in the taiga provide a great summertime breeding place for many different insects. Migratory birds often come to the taiga to nest and feed on all these insects. The typical predators for this area are grizzly bears, wolves, lynxes and wolverines. These are pretty ferocious, so their prey must adapt to flourish. Some animals hide from predators by changing color to blend into the different summer and winter habitats. For example, the ermine is dark brown in the summer, but in the winter it turns white. What excellent camouflage!

PEOPLE AND THE TAIGA: There are a few large cities in the southern parts of the taiga, such as Moscow and Toronto, but most of it is relatively unpopulated. There are also a few native communities of people who still live indigenously in the taiga. The major industries of the taiga include logging, mining, and hydroelectric development. These activities have had negative impacts on areas of this biome and may continue to negatively affect it in the future. A majority of the logging in the taiga is done by clear-cutting, using heavy machinery to remove much of the surrounding forest. Hydroelectric development may seem beneficial because it uses water to generate power, but it has damaged the taiga by changing stream habitats and flow patterns, and flooding large areas and changing the landscape. Mining is a concern because it may result in pollution of surrounding soils and water, specifically acid rain. Regrowth of mature forests takes a long time because of the climate and soil conditions of the taiga. Many large vertebrates who live in the taiga are sensitive to human presence, habitat alteration, and pollution. Two simple things you can do to help the taiga are learn more about this biome, and use paper wisely making sure to recycle. This will help reduce the need for logging of trees for pulp used to make paper.
LINKS: The Taiga Taiga Topics Blue Planet Biomes: Taiga Taiga Rescue Network Earth Floor: Taiga Geography for Kids: Coniferous Forest Earth Observatory: Coniferous Forest
Back to Biomes Index

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Location | Weather | Plants | Animals | People | Links LOCATION: Taiga, also known as coniferous or boreal forest, is the largest terrestrial biome on earth. It extends in a broad band across North America, Europe, and Asia to the southern border of the arctic tundra.

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The taiga is a forest of the cold, subarctic region. The subarctic is an area of the Northern Hemisphere that lies just south of the Arctic Circle.

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Changing Seasons

Unlike in a rainforest, where the temperature stays the same year-round, it's easy to tell what season it is in a temperate forest. It's warm in the summer, but it gets cool in the fall, and cold in the winter. Most temperate forests don't get as much rainfall as tropical rainforests, but they do get enough rain-about 30 to 60 inches each year-to grow big trees. Certain trees in a temperate forest can grow up to 100 feet tall-that's as high as a seven-story building!

Temperate forests are found in eastern North America, northeastern Asia, and central and western Europe. In North America, the Eastern Deciduous Forest stretches from Florida to Maine along the east coast and as far west as Texas and Minnesota. The forest extends over 26 U.S. states and as well as parts of southern Canada.

Part of an island in Japan is a temperate forest. Oak, ash and conifers grow in the lowlands of the island of Hokkaido. It's also the only place in Japan where brown bears live in the wild.

Sherwood Forest in England, where the legendary Robin Hood is said to have lived, is a tiny forest-less than one square mile-but is home to over 900 big oak trees.

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Temperate forest habitat facts and photos

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Location | Weather | Plants | Animals | People | Games | Links LOCATION: Most temperate, deciduous (leaf-shedding) forests are located in the eastern United States, Canada, Europe, China, Japan, and parts of Russia. Deciduous forests are broken up into five zones.The firstzone is the tree stratum zone.

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Credit: Alastair Hotchkiss / WTML

Temperate rainforests are particularly good for Lobarion and Graphidion lichens. Probably the most recognisable is tree lungwort ( Lobaria pulmonaria) which is a large, leafy lichen. It literally looks like the lungs of the forest. Then there's the rare 'blackberries-in-custard' lichen ( Pyrenula hibernica, pictured), a 'crustose' lichen which presses tight to the smooth bark of trees like hazel, and characteristically splits the bark.

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Temperate Celtic Rainforest in the UK - Woodland Trust

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Credit: Alastair Hotchkiss / WTML Temperate rainforests are particularly good for Lobarion and Graphidion lichens. Probably the most recognisable is tree lungwort ( Lobaria pulmonaria) which is a large, leafy lichen. It literally looks like the lungs of the forest.

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Credit: Katherine Jaiteh / WTML

What is ancient woodland?

Ancient woods are areas of woodland that have persisted since 1600 in England and Wales, and 1750 in Scotland. This is when maps started to be reasonably accurate so we can tell that these areas have had tree cover for hundreds of years. They are relatively undisturbed by human development. As a result, they are unique and complex communities of plants, fungi, insects and other microorganisms.

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Ancient Woodland - British Habitats - Woodland Trust

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Credit: Katherine Jaiteh / WTML What is ancient woodland? Ancient woods are areas of woodland that have persisted since 1600 in England and Wales, and 1750 in Scotland. This is when maps started to be reasonably accurate so we can tell that these areas have had tree cover for hundreds of years.

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Loch Arkaig Pine Forest is one of the UK's most significant fragments of native Caledonian pinewood. It lies within an iconic landscape of sparkling lochs.

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Mangrove forests: 10 things you should know | The Zoological Society of London

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What are mangroves, and why are they one of the most irreplaceable ecosystems on Earth?

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Color and learn: Mangroves matter – Mongabay Kids

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Mangroves are a type of coastal forest ecosystem found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

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Tropical coastlines and marshy areas around the world have one thing in common: mangrove forests. These consist of trees and shrubs that throw out many prop roots and sustain a large variety of aquatic animals, birds and plants. These mangroves form a complete ecosystem. That is, they provide a complete base for all the organisms within that environment to live and thrive. That keeps the balance in the larger environment of which humans are a vital part. Marshy and swampy tidal areas near seas and estuaries, where rivers empty into the sea, are ideal for mangrove forests.

Mangrove forests act as nurseries for many marine species, they protect coastlines, and they regulate sea temperatures within their proximity.

The prop roots have one function. They support the mangroves in the ever moving loose sand, as sea water flows over it.

All types of aquatic life forms can be seen in these mangroves - turtles, crabs, shrimps, lobsters, prawns, fish, storks, egrets and cranes, among others. Algae, which is the green scum on the water, is a source of food for many fish.

Underwater image of a mangrove-forest: the Importance of the Mangrove Forest

The mangrove belt is very important to humans. For, like the coconut, cashew and casuarina trees, it provides protection to the coastline from the rough seawaters and prevents soil erosion. During a cyclone or tidal wave, a mangrove belt faces the fury of wind and water and minimises the destruction on the coastline. The tidal forest is a rich source of biomass (organic matter that is used to produce energy).

But, not surprisingly, this rich aquatic ecosystem is under threat from humans. Land is being reclaimed from the sea for industrial and commercial purposes. Increase in shrimp farming has led to a decline in mangrove forests. Laws have been enacted to protect these forests, but the plunder continues.

315 words | 3 minutes
Readability: Grade 7 ( 12-13 year old children)
Based on Flesch-Kincaid readability scores
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Tropical coastlines and marshy areas around the world have one thing in common: mangrove forests. These consist of trees and shrubs that throw out many prop roots and sustain a large variety of aquatic animals, birds and plants. These mangroves form a complete ecosystem.

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What are Kelp Forests and How Do They Help the Planet? - Earth.Org Kids

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Kelp is a type of underwater plant and is the world’s largest marine plants. They grow in thick clusters known as kelp forests.

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What is a kelp forest? - Information & Teaching Resources

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Read about kelp forests and explore their habitat with this informative guide that also features teaching resources aimed at primary school children.

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Kelp thrives in cold, nutrient-rich waters. Because kelp attaches to the seafloor and eventually grows to the water's surface and relies on sunlight to generate food and energy, kelp forests are always coastal and require shallow, relatively clear water. Generally speaking, kelps live further from the tropics than coral reefs, mangrove forests, and warm-water seagrass beds, so kelp forests do not overlap with those systems. Like those systems, though, kelp forests provide important three-dimensional, underwater habitat that is home to hundreds or thousands of species of invertebrates, fishes, and other algae. Some species aggregate and spawn in kelp forests or utilize these areas as juvenile nursery habitat. Large predatory species of sharks and marine mammals are known to hunt in the long corridors that form in kelp forests between rows of individual plants.

Though kelp forests are important ecosystems wherever they occur, they are more dynamic than the other systems mentioned above. In other words, they can disappear and reappear based on the oceanographic conditions and the population sizes of their primary herbivores. Warmer than normal summers and seasonal changes to currents that bring fewer nutrients to kelp forests (both sometimes occurring naturally) combine to weaken kelps and threaten their survival in some years. Strong individual storms can wipe out large areas of kelp forest, by ripping the kelp plants from the seafloor. Large gatherings of sea urchins (a primary herbivore in kelp forests) can prevent kelp plants from growing large enough to form forests. The cycle between these so called "urchin barrens" and well-developed kelp forests is a well-studied phenomenon in regions that are favorable for forest formation. Each of these natural alterations to kelp forest density or total area affects the community of invertebrates and fishes that live in this ecosystem. Population sizes of many of these species (including some that are commercially important food species) depend on the success of kelp growth each year.

Destructive fishing practices, coastal pollution, and accidental damage caused by boat entanglement are known to negatively affect kelp forests. Area based management (e.g., designation of marine protected areas) is known to be an effective way to protect kelp forests from excessive use or harm by people.

1. Kelp are not plants, but rather extremely large brown algae, and many different species of kelp make up kelp forests.

2. Some kelp species can measure up to 150 feet (45 m) long. If living in ideal physical conditions, kelp can grow 18 inches (45 cm) a day.

3. Kelp forests comprise one the ocean's most diverse ecosystems. Many fish species use kelp forests as nurseries for their young, while seabirds and marine mammals like sea lions, sea otters and even gray whales use them as shelter from predators and storms. ¹

4. Sea urchins can destroy entire kelp forests at a rate of 30 feet (9 m) per month by moving in herds. Sea otters play a key role in stabilizing sea urchin populations so that kelp forests may thrive. ²

5. Giant kelp is harvested from kelp forests and used as a binding agent in products like ice cream, cereal, ranch dressing, yogurt, toothpaste, lotion and more. 3 4

Oceana joined forces with Sailors for the Sea, an ocean conservation organization dedicated to educating and engaging the world's boating community. Sailors for the Sea developed the KELP (Kids Environmental Lesson Plans) program to create the next generation of ocean stewards. Click here or below to download hands-on marine science activities for kids.
References:
² NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries

³ University of California, Santa Barbara

⁴ Monterey Bay Aquarium

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Kelp thrives in cold, nutrient-rich waters. Because kelp attaches to the seafloor and eventually grows to the water's surface and relies on sunlight to generate food and energy, kelp forests are always coastal and require shallow, relatively clear water. Generally speaking, kelps live further from the tropics than coral reefs, mangrove forests, and warm-water seagrass beds, so ...

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The Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea Otter Program has played an important role in the continued recovery of the southern sea otter population with our research, rescue, rehabilitation, and surrogacy work.

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Kelp forest | Habitat | Monterey Bay Aquarium

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Giant kelp plants form dense submarine forests that provide food and shelter for a diverse community of plants and animals. Learn about kelp forests from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.