The idea of a forest is well understood and studied in the literature since the beginning of record keeping. Forests are important for many, many reasons, but, they are growing in importance in reversing the warming climate.
Example: Stand in the sun for a few minutes until you feel the warmth of the sun on your face. Then move under a tree that has full foliage. It doesn't have to be in a forest, but, it can be. You are now in shade and the air is cooler and the heat that was on your face from the sun no longer exists. The heat and light haven't gone anywhere, but, instead of on you, it is absorbed by the tree for it's own health. So, the coolness and shade are because the tree have absorbed the light.
Below is a Pennsylvania Forest. This article discusses "Edge Forest" and "Core Forest." A young forest can have these qualities as well. It is important to understand them and their differences.
In the same forest depending on the feet one walks there is a transition of species as well as tree growth. There are different plant species on the forest floor, possibly different tree species, different animal species and different quality of light and moisture. The core forest is important to protect because it is frequently where the more rare forest species live
In 2002, I co-authored a report for the State of Pennsylvania that assessed the condition of wildlife habitats within the state. Here we noted that 57% of Pennsylvania's forest area was classified as edge forest. Many conservation targets are linked in some way to forest health and condition. Increasing edge forest is one symptom of forest fragmentation and as forests become more fragmented wildlife habitats become isolated as edge effects creep into the core areas. For the report I defined edge forest as forested area found within the first 100 m (~300 ft) into the forest from any disturbance (i.e., agricultural row crop or pasture, suburban or urban development, and roads)....
