Forest clearings

Clearings in natural forests have been called small pockets of change within the larger ecosystems. The old and the young of the forest can rub leaves and branches here when height allows.

These places are opportunities for smaller plants to enjoy sunshine. Animals use clearings for grazing, nesting, sunning and hunting. However, these patches are waiting to be forest again, the starting points for forest regeneration. This is where the woody goliaths of centuries from now may progress faster and stronger as saplings. At the same time, new open patches are starting elsewhere as earlier forest giants reach their ends.

Open patches serve as natural firebreaks. They slow wildfires down due to reduced availability of combustibles. Forest fires run either in the treetops or on the ground where dry branches and leaves are available. And change disrupts set patterns in so many ways all over the world.