Types of Forests

There are many different kinds of forests, from forests that grow entirely out of water, to forests on mountain tops. Forests provide shelter and food for a variety of living things, and they also provide raw materials for many products that we use. The major forest types are determined by climate, species diversity, structure, and soil quality.

Tropical Rain Forest

These forests are found in certain areas near the equator which have a warm annual mean temperature with little daily or seasonal variance. They have high humidity and heavy rainfall almost daily. A great diversity of trees - numbered in the hundreds and even thousands - thrive in these forests, forming complex systems.

Tropical Seasonal Forest

Also known as monsoon forests, these are deciduous and semi-deciduous forests developed by a very dry period of two to six (or more) months, broken by a very wet monsoon, which comes in early to midsummer, depending upon the locality.

Temperate Forest

These forests grow in areas with moderate average temperatures that change significantly during distinct seasons. These areas have long summers, not very severe winters, and abundant precipitation, often spread fairly evenly throughout the year.

Tropical Dry Forest

With an average of less than 100 centimeters of rain per year, tropical dry forests vary from low, simply structured forests, to open woodlands, thorn woodlands, and savannas. The temperate zone has dry forests similar to those in the tropics. Scrub woodland stands, frequently with oak as a major species, occur similarly distributed on the drier sites.

Boreal Forest

These forests are found in regions with a subarctic climate. Winters are long and dry with snowfall and short days, and temperatures range from cool to extremely cold. Summers are short with mild to warm temperatures, but the sun may shine for as long as 19 hours each day.

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