Regenerating forest ecosystems.
Regenerating forest ecosystems are those that occur following either a disturbance (eg. fire, volcanic activity, removal of pine forest) that has damaged or eroded the ground or they may be found providing a buffer around existing forest or they may emerge on land no longer used for productive use.
They are the first, all-important stage of the naturally occurring succession process to mature forest because they provide valuable protection for the land and remaining habitat. Initially pioneering species dominate in this type of ecosystem and compete against each other to establish themselves. Pioneering species may remain as a self-regenerating system or slowly be replaced by taller growing forest trees when birds and wind disperse the seeds of other forest species.