Canopy coverage and tree density make the difference between the forests and the woods. Forests have much thicker canopy coverage (the amount of land covered by the tops of trees), and woodlands usually have a sparser density in trees and canopy cover. In the woods, the soil is drier and unshaded, where as a forest floor holds more moisture and shade.

Both forests and woodlands are home to large distinct ecosystems and house a wide range of wildlife. The woods are the ecosystem in between dense forests and open land. Distinguishing between the forests and woods goes back to the medieval times. Forests were specifically referred to as a plot of land big enough to preserve large game (deer, boars, etc.) for royal hunting parties.

WHAT IS A FOREST?

A forest covers more than 0.5 hectares of land (about 1.24 acres) and trees have a height of 6 meters (a little over 19 feet) and a canopy coverage of over 60% to 100%. Forests include many areas with younger trees that are expected to reach the average height and coverage, forests do not include predominantly agricultural land. Forests still reserve this classification if there is a loss in canopy coverage due to disease or windthrow.

Forests are home to nearly 3,700 mammals (68% of all mammals), 5,000 amphibians (80% of known species), and 7,500 birds (75% of all bird species).

The forest biome includes three general types of forests: temperate, tropical, and boreal. Temperate forests have temperatures that vary throughout the year, with 4 distinct seasons - spring, summer, fall winter. They are home to more diverse animals such as mountain lions, bobcats, wolves, coyotes, deer, squirrels, raccoons, hibernating bears, and more. Tropical forests are found closer to the equator and have warmer, more humid, climates. They house the majority of the earth’s plant and animal species: fungi, jaguars, gorillas, poisonous frogs, etc. Tropical forests have a high amount of rainfall and provide dark shaded forest floors. Boreal forests are located in environments like Siberia and Alaska and have colder temperatures, often below freezing. They have a significant role in carbon capture and accommodate wildlife such as moose, polar bears, arctic hares, and reindeer.

WHAT ARE THE WOODS?

Woodlands are referred to as vegetation that is dominated by trees with an open canopy. Woodlands typically have canopy coverage ranging between 5% to 60% coverage. A woodland has more light and sunshine that reaches the ground and drier soil. A woodland would only become a forest once there are enough trees to create a dense canopy coverage.

The sunlight that is able to reach the woodland floor create environments for ground-dwelling wildlife. Woodlands generally have animals such as raccoons, hedgehogs, rabbits, deer, etc.