The Importance of Forests

Videos

Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology, Earth and Space Sciences

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by Ecosia

Open Resource

What it is

In this video from Ecosia, students will be introduced to the importance of forests (which are home to about 80% of life on land), the problems they face, and a list of solutions that can help protect them.
Students will also learn the importance of defining forests in a way that recognizes the importance of biodiversity.

Teaching tips

Positives

This video will inspire students to protect forests and encourage them to take action.
In this video, students are introduced to Ecosia, a search engine that plants trees.
Students can click on the link in the description to see a full list of Ecosia's tree-planting projects.

Prerequisites

The teacher can familiarize students with Ecosia's search engine and its projects before starting with this resource.
Students need to be familiar with the terms deforestation and reforestation.

Differentiation & Implementation

The teacher can divide the video into four parts: definition, importance and benefits, problems, and solutions.
The teacher can ask students to select one of these areas and research it on Ecosia to build a body of knowledge about forest issues.
Other recommended resources include Tracking Global Changes in Forest Cover, this article about biodiversity loss, and this video about saving biodiversity.

From the scientist review

This resource gives a detailed look at forests and even what constitutes a forest because not all countries use the same definition. Deforestation is one of the leading causes of climate change. This resource is recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Subjects: Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
Format: YouTube Video
Language: English
Location: Earth
Provider: Ecosia
Authors: Ecosia
Published: April 27, 2021
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · MS-LS2-4. + 44 more

Core

Core Standards legacy

MS-LS2-4.MS-LS2-4. Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
MS-LS2-5.MS-LS2-5. Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.
MS-ESS3-5.MS-ESS3-5. Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
D2.Geo.4.6-8D2.Geo.4.6-8 Explain how cultural patterns and economic decisions influence environments and the daily lives of people in both nearby and distant places.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.2CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.
HS-LS2-6.HS-LS2-6. Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
HS-LS2-7.HS-LS2-7. Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
MS-LS4-D.MS-LS4-D. Changes in biodiversity can influence humans’ resources, such as food, energy, and medicines, as well as ecosystem services that humans rely on— for example, water purification and recycling. (secondary to MS-LS2-5)

New Jersey Climate Education Hub

New Jersey Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

MS-LS2-4.MS-LS2-4. Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
HS-LS2-6.HS-LS2-6. Evaluate claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
SL.II.7.2SL.II.7.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.

Oregon Climate Education Hub

Oregon Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

7.SL.27.SL.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.
7.LS2.47.LS2.4 Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
HS.LS2.6HS.LS2.6 Evaluate claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.

Wisconsin Climate Education Hub

Wisconsin Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

MS-LS2-4.MS-LS2-4. Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
HS-LS2-6.HS-LS2-6. Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
SL.7.2SL.7.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.

Maine Climate Education Hub

Maine Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

MS-LS2-4MS-LS2-4 Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
HS-LS2-6HS-LS2-6 Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
SL.6-8.2SL.6-8.2 Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.

New York Climate Education Hub

New York Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

MS-LS2-4.MS-LS2-4. Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
HS-LS2-6.HS-LS2-6. Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
7SL2:7SL2: Analyze the central ideas and supporting details presented in diverse formats (e.g., including visual, quantitative, and oral) and explain how the ideas clarify and/or contribute to a topic, text, or issue under study.

Connecticut Climate Education Hub

Connecticut Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.2CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.
6.Geo.4.a.6.Geo.4.a. Explain how cultural patterns influence the environment and daily life within and among regions (e.g., pollution of the Ganges River, Croatian access to Adriatic Seacoast, Main-Danube waterway, Chinese New Year, Hajj).
MS-LS2-4.MS-LS2-4. Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
MS-LS2-5.MS-LS2-5. Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.
MS-LS4-D.MS-LS4-D. Changes in biodiversity can influence humans’ resources, such as food, energy, and medicines, as well as ecosystem services that humans rely on— for example, water purification and recycling. (secondary to MS-LS2-5)
MS-ESS3-5.MS-ESS3-5. Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
HS-LS2-6.HS-LS2-6. Evaluate claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
HS-LS2-7.HS-LS2-7. Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.

ECCLPs Climate Education Hub

ECCLPs Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.2CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.
MS-LS2-4.MS-LS2-4. Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
HS-LS2-6.HS-LS2-6. Evaluate claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.

Michigan Climate Education Hub

Michigan Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

MS-LS2-4MS-LS2-4 Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
HS-LS2-6HS-LS2-6 Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
HS-LS2-7HS-LS2-7 Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
SL.7.2.SL.7.2. Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.

Illinois Climate Education

Illinois Climate Education Standards legacy

SL.7.2.SL.7.2. Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.
MS-LS2-5.MS-LS2-5. Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.*
SS.6-8.G.2.MC.SS.6-8.G.2.MC. Evaluate how cultural and economic decisions influence environments and the daily lives of people in both nearby and distant places.
MS-LS2-4.MS-LS2-4. Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
MS-ESS3-5.MS-ESS3-5. Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
HS-LS2-6.HS-LS2-6. Evaluate claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
HS-LS2-7.HS-LS2-7. Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.

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