Sheltering Soil
Forests secure and renew the soil; soil secures and renews the forest. The forest covers and protects the soil from extremes of heat and cold and the erosive forces of water, wind and gravity. The soil sustains the forest and provides raw materials for life. Fallen leaves, woody debris and dead animals are recycled through the soil. Time, weather and the appetites of soil organisms break down these dead plants and animals into nutrients that rebuild the soil. Healthy soils are alive with millions of organisms. Soil organisms come in all shapes and sizes: microscopic bacteria, assorted insects, many kinds of worms, miles of fungal strands, moles and many more animals that call the soil their home. Some microorganisms form a partnership with tree roots that helps them extract nutrients from the soil. Explore the Soil