Old Growth Forests: A Dying Ecosystem Type

Old-growth forests are defined as ecosystems that developed over significant timespans without major disturbance. Forests with old-growth areas feature large, mature trees, multilayered canopies, coarse woody debris, and minimal sign of humans. Here, trees of all ages and sizes can coexist in layered canopies. Dead and decaying wood carpets the forest floor, nurturing fungi, mosses, and insects that thrive in its embrace. The soil is alive with fungal networks that connect tree roots in silent communication, while gaps created by fallen giants allow sunlight to nurture saplings striving toward the sky. Old-growth forests are ecosystems of unparalleled richness. Fallen logs become "nurse logs," cradling new life as fungi and mosses break them down into fertile soil.

From coast to coast, old-growth forests offer glimpses into the majesty of these giants that once ruled. In Alaska's Tongass National Forest, spruce and cedar trees have stood for over 800 years. The Great Smoky Mountains cradle remnants of ancient hardwood forests in their misty hollows. Meanwhile, Minnesota boasts the largest contiguous tract of old-growth forest in the eastern U.S., a haven for biodiversity. In parts of the Pacific Northwest, massive conifers rise like columns in natural temples. Moss cushions the ground, sunlight filters through interlaced branches, and every breath feels sacred—a communion with life itself. These groves are reminders that nature operates on scales both grander and humbler then human comprehension.

The Old-Growth Forest Network works tirelessly to preserve these ecosystems, aiming to protect at least one forest in every U.S. county capable of sustaining native woodlands. Their efforts remind us that these ancient landscapes are not just relics—they are living legacies deserving our care.

The current state of U.S. old growth forests is outlined in the map below, created by Barnett et al. in 2023. 

Old-growth forests offer critical ecological services such as water purification, soil stabilization, and climate regulation while inspiring awe with their sheer beauty and history. In the eastern United States, hardwood forests can take 150 to 500 years to develop old-growth characteristics. In the Pacific Northwest, conifers like Douglas firs and western hemlocks may reach ages of 350 to 750 years. 

Yet their rarity is stark: only 2–5% of old-growth forests remain in the U.S., victims of logging and land-use changes over centuries. These ancient ecosystems face ongoing threats from deforestation, logging, agriculture, and climate change. Protecting them requires collaborative efforts between governments, conservation organizations, Indigenous communities, and local residents.

“Something shines out, a truth so self-evident that the words dictate themselves. We’re cashing in a billion years of planetary savings bonds and blowing it on assorted bling.”
― Richard Powers,  The Overstory

The USDA Secretary’s Memorandum 1078-006, issued in April 2025, responds to Executive Order 14225, which calls for an immediate expansion of American timber production. The memorandum declares an emergency situation across 112.6 million acres—59% of all National Forest System (NFS) lands—due to, "high wildfire risk, declining forest health, and threats from insects, disease, and hazard trees." 

This sweeping emergency designation is poorly justified and prioritizes industrial logging over genuine wildfire risk reduction, undermining science-based forest management strategies that emphasize ecosystem resilience rather than large-scale timber extraction. The memo takes effect immediately and is intended to streamline internal USDA processes, without creating new legal rights for outside parties.

By enabling the Forest Service to bypass key environmental laws-such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA)-the directive weakens critical safeguards for biodiversity, water quality, and endangered species, while sidelining public input and Indigenous sovereignty in land management decisions. Far from protecting communities, this approach shifts the focus from community safety to commercial logging, potentially increasing the risk and severity of wildfires by removing ecologically important trees and disrupting forest structure. This decree serves the interests of the timber industry at the expense of public lands. Who knew one simple memo could threaten long-term forest health, while offering only the false promise of short-term economic gains.

The Wilderness Society has said the following: "This memo is a part of a multi-pronged attack, alongside attempts to massively reduce capacity at the Forest Service to fight the wildfire crisis and properly manage the national forests. We need members in Congress, especially those who have constituents demanding real wildfire solutions, to stand up and oppose these attempts to hand over our public forests to private industry."

• Making timber production – rather than community protection – the focus of Forest Service wildfire mitigation work
• Declaring nearly 60 percent of all national forest lands to be in a state of “emergency” requiring reduced public involvement and environmental safeguards
• Short-cutting numerous environmental laws, such as those designed to protect endangered species and cultural resources, under the guise of an “emergency” to increase timber production
• Advancing the Trump Administration agenda to reduce Forest Service personnel by eliminating public input and scientific review of logging projects

You can act now to help stop this devastating loss by contacting your local representatives using the templates found at the following link: https://bark-out.org/news/oppose-the-timber-executive-order-write-your-reps/

To step into an old-growth forest is to enter a realm where time bends and whispers secrets older than civilization itself. Salamanders creep through woody debris, and insects buzz in hidden alcoves. It is a place where life persists against all odds, where decay births renewal, and where every rustle of leaves tells a story too vast for words. These forests are not just habitats; they are poems written by nature across millennia—a testament to resilience, beauty, and interconnectedness. Let us honor them while we still can.

References

Barnett, K., Aplet, G., & Belote, R. T. (2023). Classifying, inventorying, and mapping mature and old-growth forests in the United States. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 5, 1070372. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/forests-and-global-change/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2022.1070372/full

U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2025, March 28). Forest Health and Fuels Emergency Situation Determination (FHFESD) Lands. Retrieved from https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/forest-health-fuels-emergency-lands.pdf

U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2025, April 9). Secretary’s Memorandum 1078-006: Emergency Response—Expanding American Timber Production. Retrieved from https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/sm-1078-006.pdf