What if Forest?

Definition of forest

noun

• 1a large area covered chiefly with trees and undergrowth:a pine forest[mass noun]:a large tract of forest
• historical an area, typically owned by the sovereign and partly wooded, kept for hunting and having its own laws.
• [in place names] denoting an area that was formerly a royal forest:Waltham Forest

• 2a large number or dense mass of vertical or tangled objects:a forest of high-rise apartments

verb

[with object] (usually as adjective forested)

• cover (land) with forest; plant with trees:a forested hillside

Origin:

Middle English (in the sense 'wooded area kept for hunting', also denoting any uncultivated land): via Old French from late Latin forestis (silva), literally '(wood) outside', from Latin foris 'outside' 

Defining what constitutes a forest is not easy. A recent study of the various definitions of forests (Lund 2008) found that more than 800 different definitions for forests and wooded areas were in use round the world. A definition based on physical characteristics, such as the canopy cover, will most likely be used for an assessment of the forest extent.

An overall assessment carried out on a regional or global level is unlikely to satisfy more detailed national level requirements. Conversely, a definition developed to suit the needs of any given country is unlikely to be applicable at a global level.The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been assessing the world’s forest resources at regular intervals. Its Global Forest Resources Assessments (FRA) are based on data provided by individual countries, using an agreed global definition of forest which includes a minimum threshold for the height of trees (5 m), at least 10 per cent crown cover (canopy density deter mined by estimating the area of ground shaded by the crown of the trees) and a minimum forest area size (0.5 hectares). Urban parks, orchards and other agricultural tree crops are excluded from this definition – as are agroforestry systems used for agriculture. According to this definition there are at present just under 4 billion hectares of forest in the world, covering in all about 29.7% of the world’s land area (FAO 2006a) and 10% is in Canada.

Forest, usually also mean the combination of tress, wildlife, shrubs, herbs, mosses, etc in a dense group. There are several definition of forest defined by many countries, NGOs, INGOs and well knowned person in Forestry. A forest is a highly complex, constantly changing environment made up of a variety of living things (wildlife, trees, shrubs, wildflowers, ferns, mosses, lichens, fungi and microscopic soil organisms) and non-living things (water, nutrients, rocks, sunlight and air). 

Forest types differ widely, determined by factors including latitude, temperature, rainfall patterns, soil composition and human activity. The types of forest is discussed in the next post. Thank you.