Old-growth forests

This passage is adapted from an article authored by the environmental protection organization Greenpeace, regarding Finland s destruction of old-growth forests. 

In 1989 the USFWS proposed to list the Spotted Owl as Threatened, under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In July 1989, Congress appropriated 13 million to study the spotted owl. One important finding of the studies was that there were more spotted owls in old growth forests than there were in very young... 

Hart, S. C., Nason, G. E., Maryold, D. D. Perry, D. A. (1994). Dynamics of gross nitrogen transformations in an old-growth forest the carbon connection. Ecology, 75, 880-91. 

Hart, S. C. Firestone, M. K. (1991). Forest floor-mineral soil interactions in the internal nitrogen cycle of an old-growth forest. Biogeochemistry, 12, 103-28. 

Harmon M. E., Ferrell W. K., and Franklin J. F. (1990b) Effects on carbon storage of conversion of old-growth forests to... 

When flux measurements are corrected for calm conditions, the net carbon balance may be nearly neutral. One of the studies in an old-growth forest in the Tapajos National Forest, Para, Brazil, showed a small net CO2 source (Saleska et al., in press). The results in that forest were supported by measurements of biomass (forest inventory) (Rice et al., in press). Living trees were accumulating carbon, but the decay of downed wood released more, for a small net source. Both fluxes suggest that the stand was recovering from a disturbance several years earlier. 

Old-growth forests provide a habitat with particular ecological qualities. These features are not present or as well developed in mature forests that are younger than old-growth forests. Some wildlife species require these specific habitat qualities, and therefore need extensive areas of old-growth forest as all or a major part of their range. Some well-known. North American examples of species considered substantially dependent on old-growth... 

The red-cockaded woodpecker also has a requirement for old-growth forest, in this case certain types of pine forest (especially loblolly pine, Pinus taeda) in the southeastern United States, in which this bird excavates nesting cavities in large, living trees that have fungal heart rot. The red-cockaded woodpecker breeds in small... 

Because of this forestry practice, old-growth forests have been greatly fragmented and diminished in area. 

Old-growth forests are a unique type of natural ecosystem, with great intrinsic value. If old-growth forests are to always be a component of Earth s natural biodiversity, then human societies will have to preserve them in large ecological reserves, even if this means there will be some short-term economic losses. 

Quimby, P.A. Scale of Ecological Representation A Case Study of Old-Growth Forests. Natural Areas Journal 21, no. 3 (2001) 216-228. 

Davis, M.B. Preserving Our Old-Growth Forest Heritage. Wild Earth 11, no.l (2001) 76-81. 

Of course, there are limitations to the ecological success of opportunistic species. In stable environments, where disturbance is infrequent, there are few circumstances that are favorable to opportunistic species, and they will be rare in the biota. Such conditions are common, for example, in old-growth forests and other climax ecosystems. However, many human activities result in extensive disturbances of natural ecosystems. As a result, opportunistic species are faring much better today than they did prior to the global environmental changes that are being caused by humans. 

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