Public Forests of Maryland Back to Photo Gallery

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When you look at the forest floor of an old growth forest and see the multitude of plants that are growing, its easy to understand why old growth forests have more diverse plant species than any other forest environment. The woody debris on a forest floor provides a rich bed that many plants thrive in. The greater structural complexity found in older forests provides optimal nesting conditions for many declining bird species.

Forests managed for the benefit of a variety of species should be largely mature or old growth forests. Unfortunately, both clearcut and thinning operations used in logging eliminate most of the mature trees needed for dens or food supplies for wildlife, and perpetuate sub-optimal habitat for most nesting songbirds.

Cavities in large trees can be used by larger animals for dens. Similar conditions will not be found in a logged forest for decades.

The crown of an old tree is home to many insects and birds. Many insects found in the canopy of a forest cannot be found elsewhere.

Sustaining biodiversity requires both living and dead trees in a forest. Biologists tell us that a large proportion of the species in a forest depend upon the dead and dying trees, perhaps more than the number of species that utilize the live trees.

Fungi, beetles, and many bacteria live on dead or dying trees. Snags and the remains of large downed trees, upon which much biodiversity depends, are not abundant in frequently logged forests where unfortunately dead trees are considered as having gone to waste.