What is an “Old Growth Forest”

Home Definitions How Much Sites	Most of us know what old growth forests are but we would have difficulty writing a definition. The caretakers and agencies that deal with old growth forests have had the same difficulty. We have found more definitions than seem reasonable for the term “old growth forest”. There is even a web site dedicated to pages of definitions of terms used with “old growth forests.” For our purposes we will define “Old Growth Forests” as those stands of forest that have been untouched by man or fire for 150 years or more. The 150-year-old mark is appropriate because modern civilization began logging in this area in about 1850.
	The photo at the left shows a nursery tree in the foreground. A nursery tree is an old growth tree that has matured, died, and fallen to the forest floor. As it decays new trees sprout on its nutrient rich surface. Nursery trees are one of the elements that you will find in an “Old Growth Forest”. Another thing you will find in an “Old Growth Forest” is shown in the background. Not only are there trees of all sizes dead and down on the forest floor but as you can see by the various sized trees in the background, You will see live trees of all ages and sizes within an “Old Growth Forest.” You will also see a complex forest canopy with multi-height trees and even open areas were the sun can shine down to the forest floor. An “Old Growth Forest” is a complex eco-system with dead and dying trees still standing and new trees growing out of the nutrient rich forest floor to replace those dead and dying trees. And don’t forget, you will also see huge trees with trunks over six feet in diameter that you just need to walk up to and hug to see if they really are as big as they seem. When you look up the trunks of these giants they will seem to go forever. Many are as tall as 10 story buildings or 300 feet. Many of these trees are over 250 years old.
	One interesting aspect of defining “Old Growth Forests” is that if you use size as a criteria to determine “Old Growth Trees” then high-alpine trees that never grow very tall and lodge-pole pine forests that have never been touched by man or fire can not be defined as “Old Growth”. Some agencies have apparently fallen into this trap.

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