Basic Facts About Forests

Forests occupy one third of the Earth's land area and are found on all corners of the globe. While there are a few different types of forests, all forests have trees as the dominant plant type.

© Howie Garber

Forests are divided into three different layers: the forest floor, the understory and the canopy. The forest floor is comprised of soil, dead plants and animals and small plants such as grasses and wildflowers. The understory contains small trees or bushes and is also called the shrub layer. The canopy is made up of the leaves and branches of the trees that dominate the forest.