A forest plays an important role in maintaining and improving water quality. Forests help recharge underground aquifers, minimize erosion and sustain the water cycle. Forests also play a key role in the life cycle of certain fish and animals that depend on water for food, habitat and protection. In biological systems, materials go through cycles.
Organisms depend on certain habitat conditions in order to survive and thrive.
Elements in an ecosystem are interdependent, and changes to any element could affect the overall ecosystem. The relationship between water and forests can be studied in the context of many different areas of learning. Think of your schoolyard as a watershed. Study the water supply system for your community. In addition to providing beauty and recreation, forests supply raw materials to help meet society's needs for housing, paper, containers and thousands of other products used by consumers every day.