Beneath the tree canopy in a healthy forest lies a community of tiny plants, including mosses and lichens. Lichens are considered an indicator of good air quality, as they are extremely sensitive to sulfur dioxide; they are not usually found in industrial areas. And mosses are believed to lay the foundation for other plant life to thrive. They also protect against erosion, and scientists now believe mosses may be instrumental in reabsorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide.
The next time you’re in the forest, thank those tiny plants for helping keep our planet green—literally and figuratively! Rick Orluk took this photo of moss and lichen near Creamer Pond on the Granby Land Trust’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve in North Granby.