FOREST

Forests are home to 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity. The largest share of forests is in the tropical latitudes, followed by those in the boreal, temperate, and subtropic domains. Forest habitats are paramount to life on Earth as they purify the air, filter the water, prevent erosion, and act as an important buffer against climate change.
Discover our forest projects
Buenaventura Reserve (Ecuador)
FOREST

Why is it so important to protect and restore our forests?

Forests serve as crucial habitats for countless plant and animal species, supporting biodiversity and maintaining delicate ecological balances. They also act as significant carbon sinks, mitigating the impacts of climate change. In addition, forests play a vital role in water regulation, helping to maintain clean water supplies and preventing soil erosion. Forests also provide valuable resources, supporting local economies, and offer recreational value to numerous people all over the world.

Support a forest project
Amazon forest
Tropical rain forests are home to sloths

80%

of the world's terrestrial biodiversity live in forests

30%

of the climate solution needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, can be provided by protecting and restoring forests (IPPC).

1,600,000,000

people, particularly in developing countries, depend on forests for their livelihoods.

How can we best support our forests?

Land acquisition and protection

By acquiring and preserving key land areas, we can create protected areas, wildlife corridors, and nature reserves that provide essential habitats for endangered species and contribute to the overall health of ecosystems.

Protecting/restoring keystone species

The protection and restoration of keystone species are vital for the well-being of habitats. By ensuring their survival, we contribute to the preservation of biodiversity, promote ecological stability, and support the interconnected web of life.

Community-based conservation

The active participation of local communities and indigenous groups in the planification and management of protected areas are the best long-term insurance to mitigate threats such as poaching, illegal logging, and habitat destruction, while recognizing and respecting cultural values and local livelihoods.

Planting trees

By participating in tree-planting initiatives, we contribute to combating climate change, improving air quality, restoring habitats, and fostering biodiversity.

Rewilding

We let nature run its course and enable natural processes to repair damaged ecosystems.  The result: more biodiverse habitats

Keystone species in forests

Keystone species have a key role in the functioning of a habitat, as they have a cascading effect on other species in an ecosystem. It is crucial to protect keystone species to ensure habitats’ health. For habitat restoration purposes, it can also be beneficial to reintroduce keystone species in certain areas. Here are some of the keystone species crucial for forests:

Photo by Zdeněk Macháček on Unsplash

Lynx

  • least-concern
  • Stable (Eurasian lynx)
Lynx are considered keystone species due to their significant impact on regulating prey populations like snowshoe hares. Their predation helps maintain ecosystem balance by preventing overgrazing and promoting vegetation growth. Declines in lynx populations can disrupt this balance, leading to habitat degradation and affecting other species within the ecosystem.

Wolves

  • least-concern
  • Increasing
As top predators, wolves have a significant impact on the populations of other species in their ecosystem. By regulating prey populations, wolves have cascading effects on the rest of their ecosystems, including impacts on plant communities and the distribution and abundance of other species.

Woodpeckers

  • least-concern
  • Most populations are increasing, while there are only 50-249 mature individuals left of the Okinawa woodpecker
Woodpeckers are instrumental in forest ecosystems as cavity excavators. They create holes in trees, which serve as nesting sites for a variety of other animals, including other birds, mammals, and insects. These cavities are critical for the survival of many species, contributing to the overall biodiversity of the forest.
Bear - Keystone species

Bears

  • least-concern
  • Stable (110,000 brown bears)
Bears are considered keystone species due to their vital ecological role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. They regulate the food chain by exerting top-down effects on prey species and associated animals. One important contribution of bears is seed dispersal: They consume fruit and berries, while dispersing seeds through their feces. This symbiotic relationship encourages plant growth, increases biodiversity, and provides a nutrient-rich environment for seed germination.  Additionally, bears play a role in nitrogen transfer and soil disturbance. Feeding on salmon carcasses during reproduction, they transport marine nutrients onto the land, enhancing soil fertility and promoting plant growth.
Fungi

Fungi

  • data-deficient
  • No data available
While not a specific species, fungi play a crucial role in forest ecosystems as decomposers. They break down organic matter, such as dead plants and animals, recycling nutrients back into the soil. Fungi form mutualistic relationships with trees, facilitating nutrient exchange and aiding in tree growth.
Bat

Bats

  • least-concern
  • Decreasing
Bats are important keystone species in forest ecosystems due to their role as pollinators and seed dispersers. They contribute to the reproduction of many plant species by pollinating flowers and dispersing seeds over long distances, aiding in forest regeneration and maintaining genetic diversity.

Feel like supporting our forests together with us?

Support one of our projects.