Warning: The following may lead to hours of awe-inspiring procrastination. Treat yourself to an unforgettable virtual tour of the most magnificent forests on Earth at Forests Forever—a suggestion borrowed from Gristmill contributor Chris Schults. Funded by Fujifilm, the Forests Forever project is a celebration of stunning nature photography. The images are combined with serene music and Flash animation to create a riveting adventure through forests the world over.

Travel from the “Lands of Eternal Jade” in New Zealand to the Baobab wilderness of Madagascar and far, far beyond—Cameroon, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Japan… Hard to believe that this eco-adventure-seeker’s dream is free of charge and does not require hiking boots!

Each photo gallery is accompanied by supplemental educational information and a photographer profile. Also check out the interactive piece titled “Consciousness,” which provides a history of plant life on the planet, a review of the different types of vegetation, and more. Syndicated from Grist.org.

Photo credit: Forests Forever