WHAT IS COUNTER-URBANIZATION & WHY IT MATTERS

Forests are a living testament to the concept of the circle of life, where every birth, growth, death, and decomposition contributes to the vitality of the ecosystem. Trees begin their life as seeds, which sprout and grow into towering giants, providing shade, food, and habitat for other organisms. Over the years, trees may succumb to natural events like lightning strikes, disease, or simply age, eventually dying and falling to the forest floor.

The death of a tree is not an end but a new beginning. Fallen trees provide nutrients to the soil as they decompose, enriching the forest floor with organic matter. Fungi, bacteria, and insects break down the wood, releasing vital nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus back into the ecosystem. This process creates biomass—organic material that forms the basis for new life in the forest. The nutrients are taken up by new saplings, continuing the cycle of growth.
Similarly, the death of an animal contributes to the circle of life. When an animal dies, its body becomes a source of nutrients for decomposers like fungi, bacteria, and scavengers. These nutrients are then recycled into the soil, where they can be absorbed by plants and, in turn, support new life. This continuous exchange of energy and matter between living and nonliving components is what sustains the forest’s biodiversity and resilience.