What do you know about the "lungs of the earth"?

Thereare three major ecosystems on Earth: forests, oceans and wetlands. Wetlands arecalled the "kidneys of the Earth"; forests are called the "lungsof the Earth"; and oceans are called the "heart of the Earth".Forests are the largest terrestrial ecosystem on Earth and an important part ofthe global biosphere. It is the gene bank, carbon storage, water storage andenergy bank of the earth, plays a vital role in maintaining the ecologicalbalance of the whole earth, and is the resource and environment on which humanbeings rely for their survival and development.

WorldForest Day is celebrated on 21 March every year, and this year is the 12thWorld Oceans Day, with the theme of "Forests and Innovation". Theestablishment of the "World Forest Day" marks the awakening of peopleto the continuing decline in global forest resources, which has led to a numberof ecological and environmental problems, and aims to call on the public to payattention to forests, protect forests, and explore the green development pathof harmonious coexistence of human beings and nature.

I.What is a forest?

Forestis a biological community with woody plants as the main body, is aconcentration of trees and other plants, animals, microorganisms and soilinterdependence and mutual constraints, and interact with the environment, soas to form an ecosystem in general. It has rich species, complex structure andvarious functions, and is known as the "lungs of the earth". Thebiological communities in forests cover a large area of the world, and play animportant role in carbon dioxide decline, animal communities, water flowregulation and soil consolidation, constituting a very important link in theearth's biosphere.

II.Classification of forests

(i)Forests can be divided into five categories according to their uses: protectionforests, timber forests, economic forests and energy forests (former charcoalforests), and special-purpose forests.

1.Protective forests

Forests,trees and bushes with the main purpose of protection, including waterconservation forests, soil and water conservation forests, wind and sandforests, farmland, pasture protection forests, shore protection forests, roadprotection forests.

2.Timber forests

Forestsand trees whose main purpose is to produce timber, including bamboo forestswhose main purpose is to produce bamboo timber.

3.Economic forests

Forestsand trees whose main purpose is to produce fruits, edible oils, beverages,spices, industrial raw materials and medicinal herbs.

4.Fuelwood

Forestswhose main purpose is to produce fuel

5.Special purpose forests

Forestsand trees whose main purpose is national defence, environmental protection,scientific experiments, etc., including national defence forests, experimentalforests, mother forests, environmental protection forests, scenic forests,forests of scenic spots and revolutionary monuments, and forests of naturereserves.

(ii)According to their distribution on land, they can be divided into coniferousforests, mixed coniferous-deciduous-broad-leaved forests, deciduousbroad-leaved forests, evergreen broad-leaved forests, tropical rainforests,tropical monsoon rainforests, mangrove forests, evergreen forests of the coralislands, savannahs, and shrub forests.

III.Role of forests

1.Oxygen production

Forestshave the role of creating oxygen, an acre of forests can create 50 peoplebreathe oxygen.

2.Vacuum Cleaner

Forestsare treated as hoovers. The branches and leaves of forests can absorb a largeamount of dust, thus reducing the amount of dust in the air.

3.Rainwater retention

Forestsretain rainwater, preventing the soil from being washed away by the rain.

4.Purifier

Theforest is a purifier, able to absorb harmful substances, but also play a rolein sterilisation, an acre of forest can absorb about 4 kg of carbon dioxide.

5.Noise Reduction

Theforest has the effect of reducing noise, and is considered to be a silencingwall.

6.Greening

Forestshave a greening effect, and can reduce the wind speed, improve the humidity ofthe air, and thus play a role in protecting the environment.

IV.See how they protect the forest

1.The United States: "Forest Bank"

The"Forest Bank" is not a bank in the true sense of the word, but aforest protection company that operates independently of the TNC, with the goalof protecting timber forests, while at the same time taking into account theprotection of wildlife habitats and the maintenance of natural landscapes, etc.The "Forest Bank" is an organisation that is not a bank in the truesense of the word. Forest lands that are part of the Forest Bank remain privateproperty, and foresters are still allowed to hike and hunt and engage in other recreationalactivities in the forests without compromising the healthy growth of the trees."Established in 2002, the Forest Bank has 3,238 square hectares of forestland enrolled in the programme, with technical support from The NatureConservancy, which has extensive experience in professional land management.

2.Germany: Developing Forest Recreation

Germany'sBlack Forest is world-renowned, and forest recreation originated in Germany inthe 1940s. Currently, there are more than 350 forest recreation sites inGermany, which receive about 300,000 people per year, with an average stay ofabout three weeks per person. There are 61 naturopathic resorts in Germany,accounting for about 16 per cent of all resorts. Forest therapy" plays animportant role in this type of retreat, and the design of forest trails is oneof the most important facilities for this type of retreat.

Thetown of Baden-Baden is a world-famous cultural heritage town and an importantforest recreation town in Germany. Baden-Baden combines a long history andculture with rich natural forest resources, and in the town recreationists canenjoy forest bathing, spa bathing and psychological adjustment at the sametime. By enjoying the beautiful scenery, tasting the food, listening to themusic and breathing in the fragrance of the land, you can get the baptism andrelaxation of the five senses of sight, taste, touch, smell and hearing.Wandering in this town, where history and modern innovation are nurturedtogether, you can enjoy the humanities, art and natural beauty, and combineexercise and rest to achieve physical and mental harmony. The town is alsoequipped with a number of speciality clinics, using advanced medicaltechnology, so that the recuperators can receive a full range of healing servicesfrom the inside to the outside.