What Is A Forest More goes on in a forest than you may realize. A forest is a complex, living system, and each one is unique. They're valuable, too, in several ways. Forests help clean water and air, and they provide wildlife habitat, beautiful scenery, recreation, and forest products.
Forests also serve as a living record of natural and human history.
In New Hampshire With 74 native tree species, New Hampshire's forests are more diverse than almost any other in North America. Our forests include 12 softwood species and 62 hardwood species. As Natural Communities Trees and other plants grow together in groups called natural communities. These groupings are based on preferences for similar types of soil, water, and climate. The plants, animals, and microbes in each natural community interact closely.