What Does
Old Growth Forests Mean?
Old growth forests are forests which have grown to a very old age without disturbance from humans and therefore have unique properties within their immediate environment. They are considered very valuable by environmentalists, partially due to their greater biodiversity and variations within the environment that is created by the age of the forest itself. They also have a unique influence on weather and water flows.
Safeopedia Explains Old Growth Forests
Old growth forests are unique because they contain very old trees which grow to tremendous sizes. This means that there is greater variation within the height of the forest canopy due to there being very old and large trees as well as very new and small trees. This variation can only be achieved through the old age of the oldest trees. This affects nearly every other part of the environment within the forest as well.