Forests protect stream banks and soils, clean the air and provide food and habitat for fish and wildlife. Forests also provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and supply raw materials for fuel, lumber, paper, and many other products. Healthy streams and watersheds are linked to trees by the water which runs through them. Forests directly adjacent to streams and rivers are termed riparian forests. In addition, trees provide deep root systems which hold soil in place, thereby stabilizing streambanks and reducing erosion.
Forests are one of the least polluting types of land uses.
Large, healthy forests are essential to keeping our water clean. Habitat for Fish and Wildlife Healthy forests provide food, shelter, nesting sites, and safe migration paths for the Chesapeake Bay's aquatic and land animals. Streamside forests shade the water below, maintaining cooler water temperatures in the summer - an important factor for spawning fish. Even the decaying leaves and wood are an essential part of the Chesapeake Bay food chain. Air Quality Airborne pollution is an increasing problem for the Bay.