forest preserves
Guarded natural areas
Forest preserves are protected natural areas set aside to maintain their ecological character, typically administered by local or regional governments.
Unlike national parks, forest preserves tend to be smaller and closer to urban areas, offering accessible green space: The county forest preserves have hiking trails throughout.
The term is especially common in the Chicago area, where the forest preserve district manages extensive woodland tracts.
- tree canopyUpper forest layer
- canopy treesHighest forest vegetation layer
- hiking trailsRecreational walking routes outdoors
- nature walksOutdoor excursions observing wildlife
- land trustsNonprofits holding property for preservation
ecosystem · biodiversity · Cook County · green space · ecological balance · watershed protection · wetlands · native species · wildlife corridors · pollinators · controlled burns · volunteer programs · birdwatching · wild turkeys · keystone species · park district · old-growth forests · carbon sequestration
- conservationconservation, wildlife, endangered, habitat, sanctuary
- plant conservationseed banks, seed vaults, botanical gardens, nature reserves, protected areas
- protected landsnational park, national parks, wildlife refuge, wildlife refuges, nature reserve
- outdoor recreationhiking, camping, fishing, swimming, skiing
- Historic ForestsArdennes, Fontainebleau
- urban greenspacescity parks, urban parks, green spaces, greenbelts, green belts
forest preservesstrip mines
Surface-level ore extraction sites
logging operations · clearcuts · tree plantations · tree farms · mining claims
forest preservesurban sprawl
Uncontrolled peripheral development
industrial zones · shopping centers · housing developments · subdivisions · parking lots
forest preservesurban centers
Densely populated municipal areas
industrial parks · shopping malls · housing developments · parking lots · commercial districts