自然林(しぜんりん)

Composed of 自然(しぜん) (nature, natural) and 林(りん) (forest, woods). A forest in which the trees have grown from natural seed dispersal rather than being deliberately planted. It typically contains a mix of species and age classes, in contrast to the uniform rows of a plantation forest.

Usage

Common in forestry policy, environmental reporting, and nature writing. Sometimes used loosely to mean any forest that feels "wild," even if it has experienced minor human activity.

Common collocations

• 自然林(しぜんりん)を守(まも)る: to protect natural forests
• 自然林(しぜんりん)を再生(さいせい)する: to restore natural forests
• 自然林(しぜんりん)が残(のこ)る: natural forest remains
• 豊(ゆた)かな自然林(しぜんりん): a rich natural forest

Similar words

• 天然林(てんねんりん): natural forest — a near-synonym, more common in forestry terminology
• 原始林(げんしりん): primeval forest — a stricter term for completely undisturbed forest
• 人工林(じんこうりん): plantation forest — the direct antonym; planted and managed by humans
• 雑木林(ぞうきばやし): mixed woodland, coppice — a small natural forest of mixed broadleaf trees, often near villages