Old-Growth Forests in Canada - A Science Perspective

Old Growth Forests in Canada - A Science Perspective

In some areas of Canada, we are fortunate to have remaining intact forests that are very old and have never been logged. In other parts of the country only remnant patches of original forest remain. Some of these forests have been recognized as World Heritage Sites. The age at which old-growth characteristics are attained and the length of time they persist may vary greatly among different forest types.

The purpose of this symposium and workshop is to provide a forum for presentation and discussion of the science of Canadian old-growth forests. The event is intended to draw the science together to help define and explain the attributes, ecology, and options for management of these forests.

A national science symposium and workshop for forest scientists, forest managers, and policy-makers with interests in Canadian temperate and boreal forests was held in October 2001 at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

The results of the symposium and workshop are to be published in two special issues of The Forestry Chronicle and Environmental Reviews benchmark for our understanding of old-growth forests in Canada, serve as guide in setting the agenda for future research, and provide support for improved management practices and policy development with respect to old growth forests.