A forest is defined by its plants. It’s an area of land with a lot of trees. There are different types: rain forests, coniferous forests, and deciduous forests.
Coniferous forests
Coniferous forests are made with evergreens. They are found in Canada, Alaska, and in the northern regions of Asia and Europe. The types of trees in these forests are conifers, ones that produce their seeds in cones, as in pine cones.
The trees in these forests have flexible branches that support heavy snowfalls. Less water evaporates from their leaves because of the shape of their needles. There are not many different types of trees in coniferous forests because of the cold weather and the poor soil.
Fallen branches, needles, and dead animals do not decay as fast as in warmer regions. This is why the soil in coniferous forests is not very fertile. Many coniferous trees shade large parts of the soil below them, which keeps many plants from growing on the forest ground.
Deciduous forests
Deciduous forests grow in North America, Europe, and Asia. They have a moderate climate during the spring, summer, autumn (fall), and winter with rainfall of at least 50 cm (about 20 inches) a year.
In the winter, snow covers the ground and the deciduous trees and plants lose their leaves. The decaying leaves help make the soil rich in nutrients. The trees in winter are bare, but with the coming of spring, leaves sprout, birds return, animals are born, and all the forest animals get busy with their lives. Wild flowers and ferns grow almost everywhere in the spring. New leaves capture the energy of the sun and sprout before the tall trees shadow them.
(edited from: source)