Why are trees not naturally found in the Falkland Islands?

The absence of naturally occurring trees in the Falkland Islands is primarily due to the region's harsh environmental conditions. The islands experience a consistently cool, damp, and windy climate that is not conducive to forest growth.1

Specifically, the islands are characterized by persistently high westerly winds, which average 19 miles (31 km) per hour, and a mean annual temperature of approximately 42 °F (5 °C). This chilly, windy environment, combined with the accumulation of deep peat deposits—which results from the climate inhibiting the complete decomposition of plant matter—prevents the development of native trees. Consequently, the landscape is dominated by low, dense vegetation, such as white grass and diddle-dee.1