Download Tropical rainforests Highly dense, lush forest with canopies

Types of forest
Tropical rainforests
Highly dense, lush forest with canopies preventing sunlight from getting to the floor of the
forest. All year high temperatures and abundant rainfall. Located near the equator. A vital
storehouse of biodiversity, sustaining millions of different animals, birds, algae and fish
species.
Sub-tropical forests
Located at the south and north of the tropical forests. Trees here are adapted to resist the
summer drought.
Mediterranean forests
Located at the south of the temperate regions around the coasts of the Mediterranean,
California, Chile and Western Australia. The growing season is short and almost all trees
are evergreen, but mixed with hardwood and softwood.
Temperate forests
Located at Eastern North America, Northeastern Asia, and western and eastern Europe. Mix
of deciduous and coniferous evergreen trees. Usually, the broad-leaved hardwood trees
shed leaves annually. There are well-defined seasons with a distinct winter and sufficient
rainfall.
Coniferous forests
Located in the cold, windy regions around the poles. They come in both hardwoods and
conifers. The hardwoods are deciduous. The conifers are evergreen and structurally
adapted to withstand the long drought-like conditions of the long winters.
Montane forests
Known as cloud forests because they receive most of their precipitation from the mist or
fog that comes up from the lowlands. Usually found in high-elevation tropical, subtropical
and temperate zones. Plants and animals in these forests are adapted to withstanding the
cold, wet conditions and intense sunlight. Trees are mainly conifers.
Plantation forests
Has around 7% of global forest cover (140 million hectares). Produces more sustainable
timber and fibre than natural forests. Plantations produce around 40% of industrial wood.
Plantation forests are on the increase.