Temperate forest

A temperate forest is a large terrestrial biome found in the temperate zone. These forests sit between the tropical regions and the boreal regions. They wrap around the planet in a belt at latitudes between 25 and 50 degrees. This biome is the second largest forest type on Earth. It covers 25% of the world's total forest area. Only the boreal forest is larger, covering about 33% of the Earth.

The climate within these forests can change a great deal. The specific weather depends on the exact location of the forest. For example, Los Angeles and Vancouver are both in the temperate zone. However, Vancouver is located in a temperate rainforest. Los Angeles has a relatively dry subtropical climate instead. This shows how much variety exists within the same latitude. The forests are spread across many different continents and hemispheres.

One major type of temperate forest is the deciduous forest. These forests are found in Europe, East Asia, and North America. They also exist in some parts of South America. Deciduous forests are made mainly of broadleaf trees. Common examples include maple and oak trees. These trees have a specific cycle where they shed all their leaves during one season. You can find them in three middle-latitude regions. These areas have temperate climates with a winter season and year-round precipitation.

Another type is the coniferous forest. These forests are composed of evergreen trees with needle-shaped leaves. Pine and fir are common examples of these trees. Most coniferous forests are found in regions with moderate climates. However, the boreal forests are an exception to this rule. Boreal forests are coniferous but are found in subarctic regions. Coniferous trees often have an advantage in harsher environments. Their leaves are typically harder and live longer than broadleaf leaves. This advantage comes at a cost because they require more energy to grow.

Mixed forests occur when different tree types grow in the same area. In these forests, conifers and broadleaf trees live together. In North America and Eurasia, you might see fir, oak, ash, or maple. Other trees include birch, beech, poplar, elm, and pine. You may also find plants like magnolia, holly, or rhododendron. The trees change depending on the continent. In South America, conifer and oak species are most common. In Australia, eucalypts are the predominant trees. In the Mediterranean region, you can find widely spaced hardwood evergreen trees. These include olive, cork, oak, and stone pine.

Temperate rainforests are the wettest type of temperate forest. They are quite rare because they only grow in very wet coastal areas. Many of these forests no longer exist outside of protected areas. Humans have cut down most of them in the past. You can still find them in the Pacific Northwest. They also exist in southern Chile and most of Japan. Other locations include northern Turkey, Bulgaria, and Georgia.

Human activity has a major impact on these forest biomes. Most of the world's population lives in the middle latitudes. This means people live very close to temperate forests. Many forests were cut down long ago to make way for cultivation. They were also cleared to build massive cities. Examples of these cities include London, Tokyo, Paris, Seattle, and New York City. Today, these biomes face many different challenges. These include mining, logging, hunting, and pollution. These activities lead to deforestation and habitat loss.