Artificial forests: what are, characteristics, flora and fauna

Artificial forests or also known as cultivated forests are those that The human being establishes through planting procedureseither with native or exotic species. In other words, an artificial forest is one in which people have interfered in their implementation.

• Part of these forests have often been created with the objective of obtaining some raw material such as wood, transforming large areas of native forest into a homogeneous landscape formed by monocultures of certain exotic species such as eucalyptus and pines. These species cause great environmental impacts, since they modify and simplify the original ecosystem.
• On other occasions, these forests have been implemented in empty land or old cultivation areas inside or near large citiesS For the innumerable benefits they provide, attenuating floods and soil erosion, increasing the presence of biodiversity within cities, reducing sound and atmospheric pollution, generating social spaces for recreation, among many other contributions.
• In many regions of the world, plantations have been used with the objective of restore and recover forest ecosystems and environmental services that these provide, reducing the pressures that the native forests receive and increasing the well -being of local populations.

Do not miss this article about the different types of forests that exist.

• Establishment: To establish productive implanted forests, an analysis is required in which the location of the sites to be reforested is taken into account, the most appropriate species, the design and extension of the plantation.
• Composition: They are composed of species selected and planted by the human being, as opposed to natural forests, formed by species that grow spontaneously.
• Structure: The structure of artificial forests is simple and homogeneous, since generally implanted species are usually of the same species, age and size. On the other hand, in native forests, the structure is more complex and heterogeneous and plant species have greater wealth and diversity.
• Management: Artificial forests are actively managed by human beings, ensuring their development and production. This includes the control of pests and diseases, pruning and rally of trees, fertilization and irrigation, among other management practices.
• Rehabilitation: One of the advantages presented by artificial forests is to provide the opportunity to rehabilitate deforested land, which otherwise could not be naturally restored by their great deterioration.
• Reduce the edge effect and increase connectivity: In abandoned or degraded terrain by the high pressures that the human being has exercised, close to native forests, the plantation can help reduce the edge effect (steep transition between two environments) and can expand the distribution area of ​​some species, increasing landscape connectivity.
• Functions: Artificial forests are sometimes established with a specific objective, such as wood production, soil protection, biodiversity conservation or carbon capture. Natural forests, on the other hand, perform various functions and provide a wide range of environmental contributions, such as climate regulation, mitigation against climate change, biodiversity conservation, the protection of water resources, among many other benefits.

The flora and fauna of artificial forests varies depending on the species or species of trees that are planted, of the geographical location in which they are located and the management that is carried out in that forest. In general, artificial forests usually have a lower biodiversity than native forestssince they are generally composed of One or few dominant plant species. The uniformization and simplification of the landscape usually reduces the wealth and diversity of species.

However, if the management of the artificial forest aims to promote landscape connectivity and increase the presence of biodiversity, the plantation of native species can be encouraged, installing biological corridors and promoting the protection and conservation of native species of animals.

• The artificial forest eien-no -ORi or Eternal Forest: This forest was created in the metropolitan area of ​​Tokyo, Japan, in an area that used to be occupied by fields. Today it has more than 120,000 trees of approximately 365 species that has transformed it into a large green lung, being visited every year by thousands of tourists around the world.
• Saihanba: Saihanba is one of the largest artificial forests in the world and is located in the province of Hebei in northwestern China. This forest was implemented on a desert with the aim of mitigating the effects of climate change and today there are more than 1,000 plant species that house great biodiversity.
• Eucalyptus forests in Australia: In Australia, large extensions of eucalyptus forests have been planted (Eucalyptus spp.) for the production of wood and paper pulp. These forests are important for the country’s economy, but generate great controversy due to their impact on biodiversity and water resources.
• Uverito forest: The Uverito forest is the largest implanted forest in South America found in the Anzoátegui and Monagas states in Venezuela. Today there are more than thirty companies that process Caribbean Pine Wood for industrial uses, which has led it to its setback.

Now that you know what artificial forests, their carcateristics, their flora and fauna are, do not miss these articles on primary forests: what are, characteristics, flora and fauna and secondary forests: what are, characteristics, flora and fauna.

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