Forest ecology

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Forest ecology

Forest ecology is the scientific study of the interrelated patterns, processes, 

flora

, 

fauna

 and

ecosystems

 in 

forests

. The management of forests is known as 

forestry

, 

silviculture

, and

forest management

. A forest 

ecosystem

 is a natural woodland unit consisting of all plants,

animals, and micro-organisms (

Biotic components

) in that area functioning together with all

of the non-living physical (

abiotic

) factors of the environment.

[1]

Forests have an enormously important role to play in the 

global ecosystem

. Forests produce

approximately 28% of the Earth's oxygen (the vast majority being created by oceanic

plankton),

[2]

 they also serve as homes for millions of people, and billions depend on forests in

The 

Daintree Rainforest

 in 

Queensland

, Australia

Surrounding issues

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some way. Likewise, a large proportion of the world's animal species live in forests. That's

why we absolutely must protect them. Forest ecology helps to understand life in the forest. It

shows how living organisms behave, live and survive. Furthermore, forest ecology attempts

to provide an understanding of the thriving process of forests. Similarly, many forests are

also used for economic purposes such as fuel and wood products. Therefore, understanding

how forests are managed is also a goal of forest ecology.

[3]