Forest ecosystems
Insect traps
Forests are potentially the most biodiverse of all terrestrial systems, and hold the vast majority of the world's terrestrial species. At the same time, forest biodiversity is being lost due to the rapid deforestation, fragmentation, and degradation of all forest types.
Forest biodiversity supports a wide array of goods and services, from generating both timber and non-timber forest products to absorbing carbon dioxide and moderating climate change.
Forests provide a livelihood and jobs for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Forest biodiversity also has important economic, social and cultural significance in the lives of many indigenous and local communities.
What is the Museum doing to help?
Museum scientists are studying how lichens in UK forests respond to air pollution, how trees in tropical forests reproduce and recolonise open areas, and how satellite data can be used to assess forest density. The results of this research will help us better understand and conserve forest biodiversity.
Find out more about some of the Museum's forest ecosystem projects.