Module Summary

One way of looking at forests is that they are systems that capture light energy in the form of organic matter. In this way forests provide energy for all the heterotrophic life forms (most bacteria, all fungi and all fauna) in an ecosystem. Maximizing or optimizing energy capture by forests is a central aim in restoring forests and in plantation development. Measuring or estimating net primary productivity (NPP) is one way to measure energy capture by a forest system. An understanding of the importance of nutrients in limiting NPP is a good basis from which to manage forest restoration and plantation development projects.