Why Broadleaf Forests are Important

Broadleaf forests are very important to the general health of the environment.  They play several critical roles, consider the following:

Climate Control - The dense layers of vegetation characterizing broadleaf forests have an important function in climate contorl; some aspects of global climate change, including a trend towards local drying and warming, have resulted from their destruction.

Provides Constant Temperatures as to Light & Humidity - The constant envrionment under the canopy allows living things to flourish and form countless adaptations over time.  This function is important globally as welll as the ecosystem's own life.

Filtration for Pounding Rainwater Through Canopy Layers - This softens the effect of heavy rains, preenting erosion and soil loss.  The dense canopy also reduces the lost of moisture from evaporation.

Absorption of Carbon Dioxide & Other Gases - Because plants use the most common exhaut gas of human industry for fuel to make their own food by photosynthesis, forests are massive storehouses of carbon and help to lessen the impact of the Greenhouse Effect.

Home to 1/2 the Species Living on the Planet - The forest's continutiy and adaptability to life in a low-nutrient envronment has provided the opportunity over time for tremendous bio-divesity to evolve.  Flora and fauna function together as a team to catch the maximum energy from the sun - a very susceesful ecosystem!

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