Compared to other ecosystems, forests are relatively diverse, but this should not necessarily be _________________________. Wetlands, meadows, and grasslands have a unique biota too, even if it is often not as rich as a forest biota. The ecological problems of this process have been described from a number of places such as Iceland, South Africa, and Australia, but the classic example of this comes from Scotland and northern England. Here the Forestry Commission has drained, fertilized, and fenced extensive areas of wetlands to facilitate turning them into forests. Increasing the extent of forests in Britain is certainly a desirable goal, and most of the Forestry Commission’s efforts are directed toward sites that were forested before sheep and their keepers came to the island. However, ecologists frequently complain about the Commission’s work because it is not restricted to former forest sites, because the forests established are usually composed of exotic trees, and because the wildlife threatened by this activity includes many uncommon species.
* biota: 생물(종류)상(相) ** fertilize: (땅을) 기름지게 하다