The New Forests Project works in many capacities to reduce deforestation in tropical regions. Because many local farmers and communities need forest products such as lumber, food, and fodder to survive, it is not as simple as restricting resource use. The New Forests Project has found that it is necessary to provide the local populations with alternative sources of tree products so farmers have the opportunity to let degraded areas regenerate. Find out how the New Forests Project works to help rural farmers and protect threatened forests. Ecology and Trees Trees and soil Trees are essential to the maintenance of healthy soil.
Tree roots dig deep into the ground, which helps to aerate, or provide oxygen to the soil.
Water that penetrates the topsoil can then drain deeper into the ground. This increases the rate at which rainwater infiltrates and recharges the groundwater , an underground reserve of water. When trees lose their nuts, fruits, or leaves, these materials drop to the forest floor. If not eaten, they decompose and the organic matter is returned to the soil, which is vital in terms of keeping the soil nutrient-rich. Dead trees also decompose over time, and return their nutrients to the soil.