Forest · Mochi IsleScience for kids

Why are forests so important?

In short: Forests work like a giant sponge, with roots and fallen leaves soaking rain into the soil and releasing it slowly. They are home to many animals, and their leaves give off the oxygen we breathe.

How it works

When heavy rain falls, leaves catch some of it first, and the rest trickles down the trunks. The thick layer of fallen leaves and the soil loosened by roots soak up water like a sponge, then let it seep slowly into streams. That is why forested hills lose less soil and the rivers below flood less easily.

Leaves are tiny food factories. Using energy from sunlight, they turn carbon dioxide from the air and water from the roots into sugar, the tree's food. This is called photosynthesis. The oxygen left over is released through tiny holes in the leaves, and that is the oxygen we breathe.

A forest has layers: tall treetops, smaller trees and shrubs, and ferns and leaf litter on the ground. Each layer is home to different creatures. Birds nest high up, insects hide under bark, and worms, bugs and fungi break down dead leaves and turn them back into food for the soil.

Where to see it in New Zealand

In Waipoua Forest in Northland stands Tāne Mahuta, 'Lord of the Forest', one of the biggest kauri trees alive today. Visitors stay on the tracks and scrub their shoes at cleaning stations, to stop the spread of kauri dieback, a disease that kills kauri trees.

Try it together

Find a patch of bare, hard ground and a patch covered in fallen leaves under a tree. Slowly pour a cup of water onto each. Which one soaks it up quickly, and which one lets the water run off, carrying soil with it?

Kids also ask

Do forests make all the oxygen we breathe?

No. Trees and other land plants make lots of it, but tiny floating ocean plants called phytoplankton also make a very large share. Both are important for the air we breathe.

Why are leaves green?

Leaves contain a green substance called chlorophyll. It soaks up red and blue light from the sun to make food, but bounces green light back, so leaves look green to our eyes.

In the game, “Forest” is a nature card on Mochi Isle.

Your child finds this card by reaching the right place or meeting the right weather on the island, and lights it up by answering the question on the back. Tap the button below and the game shows your child which island it is on and how to find it. Mochi Isle is a browser learning game for ages 5 to 18; the main island and the daily lesson are free.

Find “Forest” on the island ↗ All cards from Mochi Isle