DEFINITIONS OF OLD GROWTH, PRISTINE, CLIMAX, ANCIENT FORESTS, DEGRADATION, DESERTIFICATION, FOREST FRAGMENTATION, AND SIMILAR TERMS.
(DEFINITIONS OF FOREST STATE, STAGE, AND ORIGIN)

H. Gyde Lund

Forest Information Services

Email: gyde@comcast.net


Last updated:
4 March 2012

 

Abstract: Having a common understanding of what constitutes a "forest" and its derivatives (such as old growth, pristine, native, secondary forest, etc.) is fundamental for a discussion of assessment methods, ecosystem status, and sustainability. However, there is considerable variation nationally and globally in the definition and use of these terms. This paper lists the range of definitions and descriptors in use. 

 

Keywords: Old-growth, Pristine, Climax, Ancient forest

 

Cite as: Lund, H. Gyde. 2012 revised. Definitions of old growth, pristine, climax, ancient forests, degradation, desertification, forest fragmentation, and similar terms. [Online publication], Gainesville, VA: Forest Information Services. Misc. pagination. http://home.comcast.net/~gyde/pristine.htm

 

1. INTRODUCTION

In the past twenty years there has been an increased interest in the management and fate of our remaining forest lands. This has pitted industrial and environmental groups to work against each other instead of supporting one another. Part of the controversy is a lack of understanding or agreement on what is meant by various terms that describe the condition of a forest. This paper lists some of the general definitions currently in use derived from a literature search, the Internet and individual contributions. My thanks to all those who took the time to share their information and thoughts with me. 

The following is a list of definitions I initiated at the request of Dr. Anatoly Shvidenko (IIASA) for the International Scientific Conference on The World's Natural Forests and Their Role in Global Processes. 15-20 August 1999. Khabarovsk, Russia. Sources include searches on the internet, literature review, and individual responses to a broad emailing to various forestry lists. First entries are generally from WWWebster and serve to put the subsequent forest definitions in perspective. My thanks to all that contributed. For definitions of "forests" see http://home.comcast.net/~gyde/DEFpaper.html.

 

Ancient Forest:

1.     A forest that is typically older than 200 years with large trees, dense canopies and an abundance of diverse wildlife. http://www.nrdc.org/reference/glossary/a.asp

2.     Ancient (& Ornamental) Woodlands - Unenclosed broad-leaved woodland. http://www.hants.gov.uk/newforest/bibliog.html 

3.     Ancient Forest, – “A territory within the forest zone”: which contains forest and nonforest ecosystems that have been minimally disturbed by human economic activity; the area of which is at least 500 square kilometres; and the minimum width (i.e. diameter) of which is 10 kilometres. This definition is outside of the various intergovernmental definitions of forest (see Box). http://www.worldgrowth.org/assets/file/WG%20Forestry_Development_Final%20Report.pdf

4.     Ancient Forests, - forests that have existed since at least a number of centuries, https://ees.kuleuven.be/forests2011/PositionPaperForests.pdf

5.     Ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW) - those semi-natural stands on ancient woodland sites. The precise definition varies according to the local circumstances in each country within the United Kingdom and guidance should be sought from the Forestry Commission or Forest Service as appropriate. http://www.ukwas.org.uk/standard/certification_standard/glossary.html

6.     Ancient wood (woodlands) - A classification for woodland which has been in continuous existence from before AD 1600 in England, Wales and N. Ireland and from before AD 1750 in Scotland. http://www.fsc-uk.demon.co.uk/Appendices.html, Forestry Commission (1998). 

7.     Ancient Woodland - A site which has been woodland continuously since at least 1600AD http://www.tnw.org.uk/Note17.html 

8.     Ancient Woodland - A woodland that has existed continuously since 1700, and possibly pre-history. http://www.dorsetcoppicegroup.co.uk/resources/Dorset_Coppice_Group_Glossary.pdf

9.     Ancient woodland - Land which has been woodland since at least AD 1600. http://www.angelfire.com/on3/wildberks/Glossary.htm 

10. Ancient Woodland - Woodland in Britain that originated before 1600 AD. Ancient woodland can also be secondary woodland http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/herts/reserves/glossary.html#Acid

11. ancient woodland - Woodland that has been in continuous existence since before AD 1600 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland or since before AD 1750 in Scotland. http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/ForestStats2006.nsf/byunique/glossary.html, http://www.ukwas.org.uk/standard/certification_standard/glossary.html and http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/herts/reserves/glossary.html

12. Ancient Woodland. -Land that has had continuous woodland cover since at least 1600AD and may be: Ancient Semi-natural woodland - Ancient woodland sites that have retained the native tree and shrub cover that has not been planted, although it may have been managed by coppicing or felling and allowed to regenerate naturally. Ancient Replanted Woodland - Ancient woodland sites where the original native tree cover has been felled and replaced by planting, usually with conifers and usually this century. http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/gis/tech_aw.htm 

13. Ancient, Old-Growth & Native Forests: essentially interchangeable terms. They refer to forest areas that are relatively undisturbed by forest management, ranging in size from a few acres to thousands of square miles. These areas may be near, surrounded by, or adjacent to forest areas that have been heavily disturbed or altered by human management They have the following characteristics: largely naturally regenerated, less than 30% of the stand or forest area has been logged or cleared within the past century, relatively undisturbed such that human activities have not significantly altered native forest structure, composition or function, dominated by pre-European tree species, relatively unmanaged although they may suffer from a history of fire suppression or grazing, and composed of individual trees or stands of trees of different ages, with old- growth components constituting at least half of the stand or forest unit and having at least four trees per acre over 150 years of age. http://www.coopamerica.org/woodwise/business/wpledgeglossary.htm 

14. Ancient/Old-Growth Forests refer to forest areas that are relatively undisturbed by human activity. Ancient forests vary significantly in age and structure from forest type toforest type and one bio-geo-climate zone to another. The following features generally characterize ancient forests: they have not undergone any significant industrial activity, they are naturally regenerated and dominated by a range of indigenous tree species, their tree size, age and spacing vary widely, their accumulations of dead standing trees (snags) and fallen trees are much more frequent than in younger forests, they contain trees that are large for the species and site combination, their overhead tree canopy has many openings, with multiple canopy layers that encourages a forest floor lush with ferns, berry bushes, mosses etc http://www.oldgrowthfree.com/policy.html 

15. Ancient: 1 : having had an existence of many years 2 : of or relating to a remote period, to a time early in history, or to those living in such a period or time; especially : of or relating to the historical period beginning with the earliest known civilizations and extending to the fall of the western Roman Empire in A.D. 476. 3 : having the qualities of age or long existence: (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

16. Forest areas that are relatively undisturbed by human activity…Ancient Forests are made up of frontier forests, primary forest fragments and old-growth forests. http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/forests/definitiontext.htm 

17. Forests following the Ice Age. Bonnicksen (2000). 

18. Land which has been woodland since at least AD 1600. http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/glossary/indexfr.htm The Woodland Trust Glossary 

19. Old growth" forest areas that have never been timbered and therefore contain dominant mature trees, such as redwoods in California and Douglas fir in the Pacific Northwest. http://www.ecoweb.org/terms.htm#a EcoTerms Dictionary. 

20. Old growth, natural or primary forests. http://archive.greenpeace.org/politics/wto/Doha/reports/wto.pdf 

21. That which "grows on land which has been wooded continuously since at least 1600"; Peterken (1987). (WWF Report "The Status of Old-Growth and Semi-Natural Forests in Western Europe", May 1994). From: Alexander.Korotkov@unece.org. Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 17:09:40 +0200 

 

Anthropogenic forest

1.     Anthropogenic of, relating to, or resulting from the influence of human beings on nature <anthropogenic pollutants (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

2.     Anthropogenic forests are natural tree dominated ecosystems have been impacted by humans with a frequency or intensity to change established seral patterns and natural biodiversity status. If left alone Anthropogenic Forests posses the capacity to mature into natural forest systems. Ranil Senanayake <100232.3435@CompuServe.COM 

3.     (Nicaragua) - Draft - Bosque Intervenido: Bosque Natural que ha sido sometido a intervención humana en los últimos veinticinco años. www.nicarao.org.ni/ja (see Borrador de la ley, CAPITULO II DEFINICIONES) Harrie <harnic@ibw.com.ni> 

 

Antique Forest:

1.     Antique: 1 : existing since or belonging to earlier times (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

2.     Both primary and secondary woodland that originated prior to a particular date, which in Britain is often set at around 1600, as secondary woodland was rarely created by planting before then (Allaby 1994). Helene M Cleveland CCMAIL <hmclevel@aec.apgea.army.mil 

3.     The oldest of the old: forests that have been around long enough to accumulate, among other things, a rich assemblage of old-growth epiphytes. Such forests seem invariably to be more than 300 to 350 years old, and many, in many cases, have been in existence much longer than the most ancient trees within them. The last point is important. A 150-year-old tree in a 500-year-old forest may well support more old-growth indicators than a 250-year-old tree in a forest dating from a fire of equivalent vintage. (Goward 1994). 

 

Artificial Forest:

Artificial - 1: humanly contrived often on a natural model : MAN-MADE <an artificial limb <artificial diamonds (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

 

Climax Forest:

1.     Climax: 3 : a relatively stable ecological stage or community especially of plants that is achieved through successful adjustment to an environment; especially : the final stage in ecological succession (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

2.     A community that represents the culminating stage of a natural forest succession for its locality, i.e., its environment. (SAF 1977) and http://www.fw.vt.edu/zedaker/3364/ecolterms.html 

3.     A forest community that represents the final stage of natural forest succession for its environment. http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/pab/publctns/GLOSSARY/C.htm 

4.     A forest that represents the final stage of natural forest succession for its locality, i.e. for its environment. Often identified as those forests that can reproduce indefinitely (i.e. in their own shade). http://www.pfpn.gc.ca/rep98/gloss_e.html and http://www.inac.gc.ca/building/forests/forest_j.html 

5.     A community that represents the culminating stage of a natural forest succession for its locality, i.e for its environment. http://www.eresourcesystems.com/Help/Glossary/glossary.html 

6.     A relatively stable forest community which is balanced within the existing environmental conditions. http://www.gn.apc.org/LivingEarth/RainforestDB/glossary.a-e.html#climax_forest 

7.     A secondary forest (cloud or rain), that is allowed to reclaim its flora and fauna mostly on its own, working with pollinators (wind, rain, birds, mammals, plants, etc. And after some 100 years becomes a climax forest, in reality it can not be called a primary forest again, since it has undergo changes in its habitat from the original status, new species are introduce(exotic) and old species prevail(endemic). http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/5974/ 

8.     Historic Climax Plant Community -- The plant community that was best adapted to the unique combination of factors associated with the ecological site. It was in a natural dynamic equilibrium with the historic biotic. abiotic, climatic factors on its ecological site in North America at the time of European immigration and settlement. http://nsscnt.nssc.nrcs.usda.gov/nfm/apxframe.htm 

9.     Plant community dominated by trees representing the culminating stage of natural succession for that specific locality and environment (17). http://rredc.nrel.gov/biomass/forest/tim_glossary/t_glossary.html#C 

10. The final stage of plant succession in which species composition remains relatively stable. The climax forest for most of Mississippi would be the oak-hickory forest type. Pine is an intermediate species prior to the climax forest. http://ext.msstate.edu/pubs/pub1250.htm 

 

Community Forest

1.     (Cameroon 1995) Article 3 of its Implementing Decree, promulgated in 1995, provides the following definition of a community forest: “a forest forming part of the nonpermanent forest estate, which is covered by a management agreement between a village community and the Forestry Administration. http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/east_central_africa_cca_study.pdf  

2.     (Cameroon) -Community forest – that part of non-permanent forest estate (not more than 5000 ha) that is the object of an agreement between government and a community in which communities undertake sustainable forest management for a period of 25 years renewable. (MINEF 19989e http://doc.utwente.nl/60165/1/thesis_Minang.pdf

3.     (Cameroon) community forest is defined as “a forest of the non-permanent forest estate, subject to a management agreement between a village community and the Administration in charge of forests. http://www.pfmp-farmsos.org/Docs/pfm%20conference_proceeding.pdf

4.     (Liberia) A Communal Forest is defined as “An area set aside by statute of regulation for the sustainable use of Forest Products by local communities or tribes on a non-commercial basis” (s.1.3). http://www.sdiliberia.org/sites/default/files/documents/So%20Who%20Owns%20the%20Forest_full%20report.pdf

5.     (UN FAO 1978) defined Community Forest (CF) as, "any situation which intimately involves local people in forestry activities" https://zidapps.boku.ac.at/abstracts/download.php?dataset_id=6137&property_id=107&role_id=NONE 

 

Conversion Forest

1.     (Cambodia 2009) -‘Conversion forestland’ is defined as “idle land, comprised mainly of secondary vegetation, not yet designated for use by any sector that shall be classified as permanent forest reserves until the Royal Government decide[s] to use and develop the land for another purpose”. http://www.itto.int/direct/topics/topics_pdf_download/topics_id=2648&no=1&disp=inline

2.     (Indonesia 2009) Conservation forest is defined as a forest area with specified characteristics and having as a main function the conservation of biological diversity (flora and fauna) and the ecosystems. http://www.apforgen.org/National%20status%20reports.pdf

3.      (Indonesia 2009)- Conversion forests are defined as those with a standing volume of less than 20 m³ per hectare which are proposed to be cleared for agriculture, plantation, transmigration or industrial forest plantations. http://www.itto.int/direct/topics/topics_pdf_download/topics_id=2648&no=1&disp=inline

4.     Conversion forest -Conversion forest is defined as ‘forest which will be converted to other land uses by planned actions within a foreseeable future’ (Poore et al., 1989). http://www.cde.unibe.ch/University/pdf/Feu_CP_Vol6(3)_Foener_et_al_edited_00A.pdf 

 

Core Forest –

1.     (Forest land) relatively far from the forest–nonforest boundary http://www.springerlink.com/content/j1un144n10086417/fulltext.pdf

2.     A forest pixel that was surrounded by a completely forested window, http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol9/iss2/art13/

3.     A large patch of woods that have a buffer of woods around it. http://www.wkok.com/1070_WKOK/NEWS_ARCHIVES/121410.htm

4.     Any forest located further than a specified distance from a forest boundary. http://forest.jrc.ec.europa.eu/docs/pattern/regional_studies/AGILE_poster.pdf   (EC 2008)

5.     Areas with continuous forest cover during the past 198–316 years, with the variation due to the age of the oldest maps available. http://192.38.112.111/pdf-reprints/Brunet_2011_FEM.pdf

6.     Core forest is defined as the area of the remnant minus an edge of a certain width. http://forest.jrc.ec.europa.eu/docs/publications/2009/EUR23841EN_Estreguil_and_Mouton_2009.pdf

7.     Core forest is one that is densely populated with trees over a large area to support a diversely populated forest environment http://hickwilly.blogspot.com/2010/02/lumberjack-bill-show-problem-of-maple.html

8.     Core Forest, Large - Core forest patches that are greater than 500 acres. http://clear.uconn.edu/projects/landscape/forestfrag/measuring/core_explained.htm 

9.     Core Forest, Medium - Core forest patches that are between 250-500 acres. http://clear.uconn.edu/projects/landscape/forestfrag/measuring/core_explained.htm 

10. Core Forest, Small - Core forest patches that are less than 250 acres. http://clear.uconn.edu/projects/landscape/forestfrag/measuring/core_explained.htm  

11. Core or interior forest habitat, away from edge (over 300 feet from road or edge). http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/wlhabitat/forest/forest_quality.aspx  

12. Forest more than about 00 feet from a nonforest edge http://www.scribd.com/doc/23186045/Pennsylvania-Forest-Inventory-and-Data

13. Forest patches greater than 300 feet in distance to an altered edge. http://www.highlands.state.nj.us/njhighlands/master/releases/forest_integrity_analysis.pdf

14. Forest pixels that are relatively far from the forest-nonforest boundary. Essentially these are forested areas surrounded by more forested areas. http://clear.uconn.edu/projects/landscape/forestfrag/measuring/core_explained.htm 

15. Forest that is more than 100 meters from an edge or another type of land cover http://willistonvt.govoffice3.com/vertical/Sites/%7BF506B13C-605B-4878-8062-87E5927E49F0%7D/uploads/%7B4C496729-348F-4E34-8728-C01CBB5419CC%7D.PDF and http://www.circeis.org/documents/ROD/Circ-Williston%20ROD%20Appendix%20A.pdf

16. Forestland that is 300 feet or more from non-forested areas. http://clear.uconn.edu/publications/forestfrag_summary.pdf.

17. The area of the remnant minus an edge of a certain width http://forest.jrc.ec.europa.eu/docs/publications/2009/EUR23841EN_Estreguil_and_Mouton_2009.pdf

18. The inner forest areas, in the present case assumed to be 10 km beyond the edge of forest. This is usually the undisturbed forest area. http://www.fao.org/docrep/007/t0830e/T0830E04.htm 

19. The inner part of a forested region that is situated beyond a certain distance to forest boundary. http://www.forim.sk/index_soubory/Merganic_Merganicova_2007_IferResersWEB.pdf  

20. The interior area of a forest patch beyond the reach of edge effects. http://arec.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/faculty/plantinga/wildlife/LewisPlantingaWu2009AJAE.pdf,    http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/journals/pnw_2009_lewis002.pdf  and. http://www.bioecon.ucl.ac.uk/9th_2007/Wu.pdf

21. The portion of the forest that is 100 meters from the edge (Temple, 1986). http://www.in.gov/indot/div/projects/us31/study/Documents/FEIS/US31_FEIS_Chapter04_09.pdf

22. The uninterrupted area of forest beginning at least 330 feet from any developed area (road, house, driveway, lawn, field). http://www.hartford-vt.org/downloads/773

 

Degradation – 

1.     (Animal resources) - Overstocking, malnutrition, animal diseases, loss of certain species, etc. http://anmf.web1000.com/BIBLIOGRAPHY%20ON%20AFRICA%20MOUNTAINS.html

2.     (Bolivia) DEGRADACIÓN: Proceso que consiste la transformación de un sistema, orden, estructura o sustancia compleja, a un nivel inferior. así tenemos la degradación biológica, de los bosques. Source: Luis Castello faopaf@caoba.entelnet.bo Adjunto sírvase encontrar la versión no oficial y premilinar del Glosario Forestal elaborado por el Proyecto de Apoyo a la Coordinación e Implementación del Plan de Acción Forestal para Bolivia 

3.     (Bolivia) The forests experience a quick degradation, that consists the impoverishment of the forest areas or alteration of the forests original condition. This is a direct consequence of the wooden commercial use, which is usually direct impact on lose genetic diversity, and economic value of the forest with a the strongest genet erosion. , Source: Diego Pacheco, 1998. “Estilos de desarrollo, deforestación y degradación de los bosques en tierras bajas de Bolivia” plural@caoba.entelnet.bo La Paz - Bolivia

4.     (Canada - BC) The diminution of biological productivity or diversity. [Source: Glossary of Forestry Terms, Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Forests, http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/pab/publctns/glossary/glossary.htm via Igor A. Yakovlev

5.     (Environmental) - A process of changing any element of the environment to the point that the ecosystem is thrown out of equilibrium. http://www.geocities.com/atlas/env/

6.     (Environmental) - Exhaustion or destruction of a potentially renewable resource such as air, water, forest, or wildlife by consuming it at a rate faster than it is naturally renewed. If such use continues, the resource can become nonrenewable or nonexistent on a human time scale. Also see sustainable yield. http://www.geog.ouc.bc.ca/conted/onlinecourses/enviroglos/e.html 

7.     (Forest) - A secondary forest that has lost, through human activities, the structure, function, species composition or productivity normally associated with a natural forest type expected on that site. Hence, a degraded forest delivers a reduced supply of goods and services from the given site and maintains only limited biological diversity. Biological diversity of degraded forests includes many non-tree components, which may dominate in the under canopy vegetation. (Proposed definition). Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Forest Biological Diversity under CBD (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA 2001) http://www.biodiv.org/programmes/areas/forest/definitions.asp 

8.     (Forest) - All biological, chemical and physical processes that result in loss of the productive potential of natural resources in areas that remain classified as forest (World Bank, 1991) http://www.gisdevelopment.net/aars/acrs/1995/ps2/ps2008.shtml

9.     (Forest) - Biological, chemical or physical processes which result in the loss of the productive potential of natural resources in areas covered by forests and/or used by agriculture. Degradation may be permanent, although some forest areas may recover naturally or with human assistance. http://glossary.eea.eu.int/EEAGlossary/F/forest_degradation

10. (Forest) - Changes within the forest ecosystem which negatively affect the stand or site and, in particular, lower the production capacity of the stand (FAO, 1993). http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:qOqeUxO6AdkJ:www.uz.ac.zw/ies/afsa/report9a.doc+%22Forest+degradation+is%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

11. (Forest) - Changes within the forest which negatively affect the structure or function of the stand and site, and thereby lower the capacity to supply products and/or services (FAO)". . http://www.biodiv.org/doc/meetings/cop/cop-06/information/cop-06-inf-26-en.pdf

12. (Forest) - Logging or any form of removal of 90 percent of the trees leaving only 10 percent of the tree crown cover …would be considered degradation if it results in damage to the land. http://www.spcforests.org/Library/usestatus/usestatus.htm

13. (Forest) - May be generally defined as a reduction in tree density and/or increased disturbance to the forest that results in the loss of forest products and forest-derived ecological services. http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:A5q0D_lXFJgC:www.wri.org/wri/pdf/indoforest_glossary.pdf+crown+cover+FAO+definition&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

14. (Forest) - The deterioration of plant species composition and biological functions without necessarily involving a change in land use. http://anmf.web1000.com/BIBLIOGRAPHY%20ON%20AFRICA%20MOUNTAINS.html

15. (Forest) - The deterioration of the health, quality and productive capacity of a forest. http://www.peopleandplanet.net/section.php?section=1&topic=8&PHPSESSID=1a9faae006a4efebfebe57431f0ca5ac

16. (Forest) - The ecologically deleterious depletion by human activity of standing woody biomass and organic matter in forests, often associated with over-utilization of the forest for fuel or timber. http://www.usask.ca/agriculture/caedac/dbases/glossary.htm 

17. (IPCC) Degraded forests or grasslands - Forests or grasslands that are have been overused or poorly managed and are likely to have reduced biomass densities. http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/gl/guidelin/ch5ref1.pdf

18. (UN-FCCC-IPCC) Forest Degradation -A direct human-induced long-term loss (persisting for X years or more) of at least Y% of forest carbon stocks [and forest values] since time T and not qualifying as deforestation or an elected activity under Article 3.4 of the Kyoto Protocol. http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/gpglulucf/gpglulucf_files/Task2/Degradation.pdf

19. (Land) - A decrease in the production potential of the land. http://www.earth.nasa.gov/nra/current/nra99oes06/apendixg.html

20. (Land) - A permanent loss of ecosystem function, caused by disturbance from which the system cannot recover unaided.

21. (Land) - Decline in the potential of the land resources to meet human economic, social and environmental functions needs. http://anmf.web1000.com/BIBLIOGRAPHY%20ON%20AFRICA%20MOUNTAINS.html

22. (Land) - Land (soil, water and natural vegetation) degradation refers to undesirable changes in plant composition and soil and land surface characteristics. http://www.affa.gov.au/corporate_docs/publications/pdf/oper_env/armcanz/armcanz-may28.pdf

23. (Land) – Productive land that is rendered unproductive by human activity such as urban use http://www.ocdsb.edu.on.ca/WOODSweb/geomatics/English/glossary.html

24. (Land) - The decline in condition or quality of the land as a consequence of misuse or overuse, involving changes to soil, flora, fauna, water quality and quantity, visual quality and production levels by humans http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/soe/95/28.htm 

25. (Land) - The decline in the quality of the natural resources of the land resulting from human activities. http://www.soil.pir.sa.gov.au/html/mar_rep_a5.htm

26. (Land) - The loss of the productive capacity of the land to sustain life. http://anmf.web1000.com/BIBLIOGRAPHY%20ON%20AFRICA%20MOUNTAINS.html

27. (Land) -The "reduction or loss, in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, of the biological or economic productivity and complexity of rainfed cropland, irrigated cropland, or range, pasture, forest and woodlands resulting from land uses or from a process or combination of processes, including processes arising from human activities and habitation patterns, such as: (i) soil erosion caused by wind and/or water; (ii) deterioration of the physical, chemical and biological or economic properties of soil; and (iii) long-term loss of natural vegetation" (Convention to Combat Desertification) and http://www.forestry.ac.cn/din/book1/xu.htm

28. (Morocco and Yemen) Degradation (Arabic : Takhreeb, French : Degradation, Spanish : Degradacion) - Here, there is not only a deforestation, but an agreession on the forest as ecosystem, leading to a negative change in all its biotoipe(fauna, flora, soil, micro/meso climate). The productivity of the whole ecosystem is lower. Degradation could lead to erosion, drought, desertification and other calamities. Mohammed Ellatifi, m.ellatifi@ellatifi.8m.com 

29. (Plant resources) - Reduced biodiversity, reduced biomass and nutritive value, reduced plant cover and growth, plant diseases. http://anmf.web1000.com/BIBLIOGRAPHY%20ON%20AFRICA%20MOUNTAINS.html

30. (Rangeland) has occurred only where there has been an effectively irreversible decline in the rate of output of livestock products from the range under a specified system of management. http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/ifsa/posters/Mulale.doc

31. (Semi-natural forest) - A subset of semi-natural forests with some of the principle characteristics and key components of native ecosystems; a return to a semi-natural forest is unlikely to occur in a reasonable amount of time (i.e., decades) without human intervention. http://www.fscus.org/html/about_fsc/who_we_are/glossary_of_terms.html#d 

32. (Slovenia) Forest in which the growth rate, or the fertility of forest land, is reduced, or other possibilities for it to perform its function as a forest are reduced by negative outside influences. [From: Slovenian LAW ON FORESTS - Milan SINKO milan.sinko@UNI-LJ.SI via "Maksym Polyakov" <mpoliak@pcomp.usau.kiev.ua Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 16:11:17 +0300 (MSD)] 

33. (Soil) – The loss of the capacity of the soil to produce vegetation as a result of soil erosion, nutrient depletion, salinization and alkalinity, soil pollution by pesticides, nutrients, acid rain, compaction and crust formation. http://anmf.web1000.com/BIBLIOGRAPHY%20ON%20AFRICA%20MOUNTAINS.html

34. (UN-FAO 2000) Forest degradation is a reduction of the canopy cover or stocking within the forest. Explanatory note: For the purpose of having a harmonized set of forest and forest change definitions, that also is measurable with conventional techniques, forest degradation is assumed to be indicated by the reduction of canopy cover and/or stocking of the forest through logging, fire, windfelling or other events, provided that the canopy cover stays above 10% (cf. definition of forest). In a more general sense, forest degradation is the long-term reduction of the overall potential supply of benefits from the forest, which includes wood, biodiversity and any other product or service. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO 2000b) 

35. (UN-FAO) Changes within the forest class, for example, from closed to open forest, which negatively affect the stand or site and, in particular, lower the production capacity. These lands are considered apart from deforestation. (FAO 1997). 

36. (Vegetation) - A reduction in the available biomass, and decline in the vegetative ground cover, as a result of deforestation and overgrazing. http://www.fao.org/landandwater/swlwpnr/reports/v_a/atx512.htm

37. (Vegetation) - The deterioration of the healthy conditions of the vegetation, expressed through changes in its composition, structure and function (Kakembo 2001;TCM 1998). http://www.itc.nl/library/Papers/msc_2002/nrm/barreiros_horta.pdf

38. (Water resources) - Depletion of groundwater resources, decline in water quality, sedimentation of reservoirs, increased runoff and flash floods, flooding. http://anmf.web1000.com/BIBLIOGRAPHY%20ON%20AFRICA%20MOUNTAINS.html

39. Any decline in the quality of natural resources commonly caused by human activities http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/soe/95/28.htm 

40. A reduction in form, capacity, potential, or value, such as the breakdown of organic matter by decomposition, the erosion of continents, the lowering of energy available to do work, or the lowering of potential of resource sustainability. http://www.nativehabitat.org/definitions.html

41. Biological, chemical or physical processes which result in the loss of the productive potential of natural resources in areas covered by forests and/or used by agriculture. Degradation may be permanent, although some forest areas may recover naturally or with human assistance http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg08/forests/en/en4_6.htm and http://www.wrm.org.uy/actors/WB/1991policy3.html

42. Change of forest class (from closed to open forest) which negatively affects the stand or site and lowers production capacity. Degradation is not reflected in the estimates of deforestation http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg08/forests/en/en4_6.htm 

43. Changes within the forest class which negatively affect the stand or site and, in particular, lower the production capacity. Thus degradation is not reflected in the estimates of deforestation. [Source: from http://faov02.fao.org:70/0gopher_root%3a[fao.fra]def_uk.txt (concepts, definitions and methodology of the FAO Forest Resources Assessment 1990) via Bernhard Schlamadinger

44. Degradation -  Reduction in value or quality. http://www.icbemp.gov/pdfs/deis/eastside/volume1/glossary.pdf

45. Degradation - Refers to changes within the biological, physical, and chemical processes of the forest that negatively affect the area or site and lower its productive capacity or potential (for example, soil erosion and loss of valuable or potentially valuable genetic types). http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=1985&page=663

46. Degradation (Forest or grassland) FAO, UNEP - Refer to changes in the quality of forest cover which are an inevitable consequence of most forms of cultural forest modification, and only lead to deforestation in the most extreme cases. http://www.geog.leeds.ac.uk/projects/openfor/main.html

47. Degradation (Forest) (USFS) - A loss of a desired level of maintenance over time of biological diversity, biotic integrity and ecological processes. http://www.alric.org/research/unasylva/pdf/202_05.pdf

48. Degradation of natural resources – The result of the cumulative activities of farmers, households, and industries, all trying to improve their socio-economic well being. http://oaspub.epa.gov/trs/trs_proc_qry.alphabet?p_term_nm=D

49. Degradation of the environment- The process by which the environment is progressively contaminated, overexploited and destroyed.(Source: RRDA) http://oaspub.epa.gov/trs/trs_proc_qry.alphabet?p_term_nm=D

50. Degradation usually implies a loss of productivity. Operations such as thinning and salvage logging, while reducing the canopy cover, may not reduce the productivity of the land. In fact it may increase it. Thus over story reduction alone may not be regarded as degraded forest. 

51. Degradation  - General lowering of the earth’s surface by erosion or moving of materials from one place to another. http://www.icbemp.gov/pdfs/deis/eastside/volume1/glossary.pdf

52. Degraded forest - A state which delivers a reduced supply of goods and services from the given site and maintains only limited biological diversity (CBD). http://www.biodiv.org/doc/meetings/cop/cop-06/information/cop-06-inf-26-en.pdf

53. Degraded forest - ITTO (in preparation) applies the state concept to degradation referring to all those forests or forest lands that have been altered beyond the normal effects of natural processes through human activities or natural disasters, such as fire, landslides, etc. http://www.biodiv.org/doc/meetings/cop/cop-06/information/cop-06-inf-26-en.pdf

54. Degraded: characterized by degeneration of structure or function. (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary)

55. Diminished Forest Land (74) - area and percent of forest land with diminished biological components indicative of changes in fundamental ecological processes (e.g. soil, nutrient cycling, seed dispersion, pollination) http://www.hq.nasa.gov/iwgsdi/SDI_Org_USDA.html

56. Processes or activities that weaken an ecosystem, adversely affecting biological diversity. http://www.nature.nps.gov/nrbib/HTML%20files/32.htm#3152 

57. Temporary or permanent reduction in the density, structure, species composition or productivity of vegetation cover (Grainger 1996)

58. The act or process of degrading (lowering to an inferior level) [Source: WWWebster Dictionary].

59. The degradation or impoverishment of forests, measured in terms of loss of biodiversity (which includes genetic, species and ecosystem diversity) and economic, cultural and ecological utility and stability, resulting from the selective removal of trees or other forest plant and animal species or the degradation of forest environments, through processes such as destructive logging, burning, or invasion of disturbed habitats by weedy or less useful exotic species. http://www.spcforests.org/Library/usestatus/usestatus.htm

60. The ecologically deleterious depletion by human activity of standing woody biomass and organic matter in forests, often associated with over-utilization of the forest for fuel or timber. http://www.climateservices.com/glossary.htm and http://www.teleport.com/~taa/glossary.htm

61. The process of degeneration. http://www.gn.apc.org/LivingEarth/RainforestDB/glossary.a-e.html#climax_forest

62. To wear down, reduce to lower quality, by erosion or reduce the complexity of a chemical compound. http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/housewaste/src/glossary1.htm#degradation

63. Degradation usually implies a loss of productivity. Operations such as thinning and salvage logging, while reducing the canopy cover, may not reduce the productivity of the land. In fact it may increase it. Thus over story reduction alone may not be regarded as degraded forest.

64. (USA-FED- CIA) Soil degradation - damage to the land's productive capacity because of poor agricultural practices such as the excessive use of pesticides or fertilizers, soil compaction from heavy equipment, or erosion of topsoil, eventually resulting in reduced ability to produce agricultural products. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html#2032

 

Desertification

1.     (IPCC) Desertification - Land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities. Further, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) defines land degradation as a reduction or loss, in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas, of the biological or economic productivity and complexity of rain-fed cropland, irrigated cropland, or range, pasture, forest, and woodlands resulting from land uses or from a process or combination of processes, including processes arising from human activities and habitation patterns, such as: (i) soil erosion caused by wind and/or water; (ii) deterioration of the physical, chemical and biological or economic properties of soil; and (iii) long-term loss of natural vegetation. (Source: Second Order Draft Glossary IPCC WGI Fourth Assessment Report http://www.junkscience.com/draft_AR4/GLOSSARY_SOD_TSU_FINAL.pdf )

2.     (UN-CCD) Land degradation occurring in arid, semi-arid, dry subhumid areas where the ratio of the annual precipitation to the evapotranspiration falls within the range of 0.005 to 0.65. http://www.unccd.int/cop/reports/asia/national/2002/malaysia-eng.pdf.

3.     (UN-EP) Land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas resulting mainly from adverse human impact. (UNEP 1992) http://www.evsc.virginia.edu/~desert/desert/desert.html, http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~arid/desert/desert.html and www.ciesin.columbia.edu/docs/002-186/002-186.html

4.     (UN-EP) The diminution or destruction of the biological potential of land, and can lead ultimately to desert-like conditions. It is an aspect of the widespread deterioration of ecosystems, and has diminished or destroyed the biological potential, i.e. plant and animal production, for multiple use purposes at a time when increased productivity is needed to support growing populations in quest of development. (UNEP, 1978) http://www.evsc.virginia.edu/~desert/desert/desert.html

5.     (UN-EP) The diminution or destruction of the biological potential of the land, (which) can lead ultimately to desert-like conditions. UN Secretariat 1977

6.     A fertile region that has been made barren by the activities of human societies http://campus.murraystate.edu/academic/faculty/frank.elwell/Prob3/glossary/gloss1.htm#DECARCERATION

7.     A process by which fragile, semiarid ecosystems lose productivity because of loss of plant cover, soil erosion, salinization, or waterlogging. Usually associated with human misuse.http

8.     ://www.mhhe.com/biosci/pae/glossary/glossaryd.mhtml

9.       A process of land becoming more desertlike as a result of human-induced devegetation and related soil deterioration, sometimes aggravated by drought. http://www.wiley.com/college/geog/cutter018104/resources/Chapter06/gloss06.htm

10. A process of land degradation initiated by human activity, particularly in the zones along the margins of deserts http://www.ge-at.iastate.edu/courses/Geol_100/glossary.v2.html

11. A process whereby the productivity of drought-prone land decreases because of factors including deforestation, over-cultivation, drought, over-grazing (poor rangeland management), poor irrigation (waterlogging and salinization), soil erosion, chemical action and other practices (86G1). http://www.alltel.net/~bsundquist1/og6.html#BM6C

12. Conversion of rangeland, rain-fed cropland to desert-like land, with a drop in agricultural productivity of 10% or more. It is usually caused by a combination of overgrazing, soil erosion, prolonged drought, and climate change.http://ecology.org/biod/library/glos_index.html and http://www.gsu.edu/~mstnrhx/ecogloss.htm

13. Dry land becoming desert, either through a change in climate or through the actions of humans. Intensive farming and clearing trees and other vegetation can make desertification worse.http://www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/glossary.htm

14. Land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities.www.asia-tpn1.net/glossary.html and http://www.nyo.unep.org/action/ap1.htm

15. Land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting mainly from adverse human impact (and climatic variations), and is therefore a sub-set of land degradation in countries that have additional climate zones. http://www.adb.org/projects/PRC_GEF_Partnership/LD_definition.pdf

16. Land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variation and human activities. ?

17. Land degradation occurring in the arid, semiarid and dry subhumid areas of the world. These susceptible drylands cover 40 percent of the earth's surface and puts at risk more than 1 billion people who are dependent on these lands for survival.http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/worldsoils/landdeg/degredation.html

18. Progressive destruction or degradation of existing vegetative cover to form desert. This can occur due to overgrazing, deforestation, drought, and the burning of extensive areas.http://www.hwwa.de/Projekte/Forsch_Schwerpunkte/FS/Klimapolitik/PDFDokumente/Michaelowa,%20Koch%20(2001).pdf

19. The (usually) slow and progressive degradation of land towards a desert state. http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/aboutus/annualreport/sect5.pdf

20. The conversion of ecosystems into barren land http://www.hq.nasa.gov/iwgsdi/ISS_SDI_Climate.html

21. The creation of desert-like conditions in semi-arid areas, either by changes in the climatic pattern, or by human mismanagement. http://greenplanet.eolss.net/EolssLogn/searchdt.asp?cmd=getdoc&maxSize=200000&DocId=87&Index=D%3a\Program%20Files\dtSearch%20Developer\UserData\C19&HitCount=2&hits=4cc+4cd+&hc=4&req=forest%2Bdegradation

22. The degradation of terrestrial ecosystems as a result of deforestation, overgrazing, poor soil, and irrigation management. http://www.orst.edu/Dept/owrri/directory/glossary.htm#~D~

23. The diminution or destruction of the biological potential of land, and can lead ultimately to desert-like conditions (definition of UNCOD) (85D1) (Dregne's definition is given on p.19 of 85D1) http://www.alltel.net/~bsundquist1/og6.html#BM6Chttp://www.gps.caltech.edu/~arid/desert/desert.html

24. The extension of the desert into another ecological system such as into tropical grasslands. http://www.kgv.edu.hk/eden/glossary.php

25. The land degradation in arid and semi-arid areas, caused by climatic changes and human impact. United Nations Environment and Development Conference, Rio de Janeiro in 1992 (Görcelio?lu, 1992). In this definition it was emphasised that, desertification was not the only the problem of arid zones but also semi-arid zones. http://www.toprak.org.tr/isd/isd_53.htm

26. The man-made or natural formation of desert from usable land. http://www.casde.unl.edu/vn/glossary/earth_d.htm#desertification and http://asd-www.larc.nasa.gov/asd_over/glossary/d.html and http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov:81/Library/glossary.php3?mode=alpha&seg=d

27. The process by which an area or region becomes more and through loss of soil and vegetative cover. The process is often accelerated by excessive continuous overstocking and drought. http://www.roseworthy.adelaide.edu.au/~icooper/glossary/d.htm

28. The process by which lands not formerly deserts become deserts, because of changes in temperature and rainfallhttp://www.solutions-site.org/reference/glossary.htm

29. The process by which once productive land is turned into a desert by processes such as overstocking or removal of protective vegetation.http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/soe/95/28.htm

30. The process caused by continuous overuse of the land resulting in interrupted ecological systems and causing desert like conditions in areas that do not have desert climates. http://www.cnr.uidaho.edu/range456/hot-topics/range-terms.htm

31. The process of a non-desert ecosystem taking on the characteristics of a desert (arid, seemingly barren) as a result of land mismanagement or climate change.http://www.pbs.org/earthonedge/glossary.html

32. The process of becoming arid land or desert (as from land mismanagement or climate change).http://sol.crest.org/renewables/SJ/glossary/D.html

33. The process of becoming desert either from inappropriate land management or climate change; http://www.africanculturalcenter.org/10_0glossary.html#E

34. The process of desert spread. http://www.learn.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=Unit&WCU=7568

35. The process of impoverishment and deterioration of terrestrial ecosystems under the impact of man that can be measured by reduced productivity of desirable plants, undesirable alterations in biomass and diversity of micro- and macro-fauna and flora, accelerated soil erosion, and increased hazards for human occupancy (78D1) http://www.alltel.net/~bsundquist1/og6.html#BM6C

36. The process of land degradation which leads to a drastic reduction of land productivity. Land is rendered unsuitable for any productive activity. It is prevalent in arid and semi-arid areas. Its causes are both natural (dry climate, low rainfall, water shortage) as well as anthropogenic (overgrazing, deforestation, fires, intensive cultivation).http://www.rri.wvu.edu/WebBook/Briassoulis/glossaryterms.htm

37. The process of removal of the soil from a region so that precipitation quickly evaporates or runs into underground aquifers, giving the region the appearance and characteristics of a desert, even though precipitation levels would suggest a non-desert; the creation of a "well-rained-upon desert".~ Comments:~ This term became common with the 9/77 Conference on Desertification in Nairobi, Kenya. http://www.alltel.net/~bsundquist1/og6.html#BM6C

38. The process through which a desert takes over a formerly non-desert area. When a region begins to undergo desertification, the new conditions typically include a significantly lowered water table, a reduced supply of surface water, increased salinity in natural waters and soils, progressive destruction of native vegetation, and an accelerated rate of erosion.http://www.iversonsoftware.com/geology/d/desertification.htm

39. The process through which once usable land is turned into desert because of overgrazing, harmful agricultural practices, or deforestation http://cwabacon.pearsoned.com/bookbind/pubbooks/social_ab/chapter4/custom1/deluxe-content.html#desertification

40. The progressive destruction or degradation of existing vegetative cover to form desert. http://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/glossary.htm#d andhttp://www.ciel.org/Publications/climatechangeglossary.pdf

41. The progressive destruction or degradation of existing vegetative cover to form desert. This can occur due to overgrazing, deforestation, drought and the burning of extensive areas. Once formed, desert can only support a sparse range of vegetation. Climatic effects associated with this phenomenon include increased albedo, reduced atmospheric humidity and greater atmospheric dust loading, which can cause wind erosion and/or atmospheric pollution.http://www.ccasia.teri.res.in/gloss/glossary.htm

42. The reduction or spatial reorganization of net primary production in arid and semi-arid lands. http://www.evsc.virginia.edu/~desert/desert/desert.html

43. The spread of deserts. http://mac01.eps.pitt.edu/harbbook/other/Glossary.html

44. The spread or encroachment of a desert environment into arid or semiarid regions, caused by climatic changes, human influence, or both. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=30548&tocid=0

45. The transformation of nondesert ecosystems to desert-like conditions with less vegetation, less organic matter in the soil, more rapid drying of the soil, and more wind and water erosion. Desertification typically is caused by overgrazing and improper crop culture. http://www.nativehabitat.org/definitions.html

46. The transformation of once-productive arid and semi-arid areas into deserts through prolonged drought or continued mismanagement of land and water resources.http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/cfs-scf/science/prodserv/glossary_e.html#23 and http://www.fnfp.gc.ca/rep99/gloss-e.htm

47. When an area begins to develop desert-like conditions due to lack of water, deforestation, overgrazing and over cropping. http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/climate/sercc/education/glossary/#d

Diminished Forest Land

Area and percent of forest land with diminished biological components indicative of changes in fundamental ecological processes (e.g. soil, nutrient cycling, seed dispersion, pollination)  http://www.hq.nasa.gov/iwgsdi/SDI_Org_USDA.html

Disturbed Forest

Any forest type that has in its interior significant areas of disturbance by people, including clearing, felling for wood extraction, anthropogenic fires, road construction, etc. http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/deforest/deforest.html

Dominant Forest

(Core forest) surrounded by at least 60% forest http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol9/iss2/art13/

Edge Forest

1.     Edge forest includes interior boundaries with relatively large perforations as well as the exterior boundaries of core forest regions. http://www.springerlink.com/content/j1un144n10086417/fulltext.pdf

2.     Edge width -The edge width indicates the distance within which other land covers (i.e. developed land) can degrade the forest. Based on available national research, we (Connecticut) used an edge width of 300 feet. http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/forestry/ct_forest_roundtable_report.pdf 

3.     Forested area found within the first 100 m (~300 ft) into the forest from any disturbance (i.e., agricultural row crop or pasture, suburban or urban development, and roads) https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog587/l1_p9.html 

4.     The first 100 m of forest into the forest from a disturbed land cover such as agriculture, suburban/urban areas, and roads. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/wlhabitat/forest/forest_quality.aspx  

5.     The outer portion of forest. http://www.in.gov/indot/div/projects/us31/study/Documents/FEIS/US31_FEIS_Chapter04_09.pdf

Exotic Forest

Exotic: 1 : introduced from another country : not native to the place where found (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

Very few organisms developed in place - they migrated from another area. Trees ranges expanded due to wind, water and animals (including humans). 

Forest Fragmentation

1.     "Forest Fragmentation" is what happens when large contiguous patches of forests are fragmented, or split up, into several smaller patches.  These remaining patches are separated by what is defined here as the "matrix" which is just anything other than mature forest and may inlcude clear cuts, development or young plantation forests. http://www.environmentalsciences.homestead.com/aboutfragmentation.html

2.     (Habitat) – The break-up of a large land area (such as a forest) into smaller patches isolated by areas converted to a different land type. The opposite of connectivity (12). http://www.fs.fed.us/hellscanyon/about_us/planning/cmp/00_feis/10_glossary.pdf

3.     (CBD/SBSTTA 2001) - Any process that result in the conversion of formerly continuous forest into patches of forest separated by non-forested lands. http://unfccc.int/files/methods_and_science/lulucf/application/pdf/060830_killmann.pdf

4.     A break up of a continuous landscape containing large patches into smaller, usually more numerous and less-connected patches. http://ndis.nrel.colostate.edu/davet/pubs%5Cfragtools.htm 

5.     A detaching or separation of expansive tracts into spatially segmented corridors or fragments. http://www.studentcentral.co.uk/coursework/University_Essays/Geography/

6.     A forest condition where human disturbance is distributed in such a fashion as to separate habitats into unnaturally small or extremely dispersed pieces. http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/temagami/SECTION5.html

7.     A formerly continuous forest that has been broken up into smaller pieces. http://www.epa.gov/ceisweb1/ceishome/atlas/maiaatlas/forest_fragmentation.html

8.     A term that refers to forest landscapes that are broken and not continuous. http://www.wildlandsprojectrevealed.org/htm/glossary.htm#concepts

9.     Any process that results in the conversion of formerly continuous forest into patches of forest separated by non-forested lands. http://www.biodiv.org/programmes/areas/forest/definitions.asp

10. Breaking up a specific habitat into smaller unconnected areas. A habitat area that is too small may not provide enough space to maintain a breeding population of the species. http://www.anr.state.vt.us/champ/atlas/html/glossary.htm#h

11. Breaking up large areas of continuous natural habitat into smaller patches of natural habitat isolated from each other by human-altered habitat. http://www.northern.edu/natsource/BIRDS/Conser1.htm

12. Breaking up of contiguous areas into progressively smaller patches of increasing degrees of isolation from each other. http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/cnnf/natres/plan/glossary.html#[%20F%20]

13. Creating smaller areas of habitat from a large continuous habitat tract, such as removing a block of trees from a forested area. The road built through the prairie resulted in fragmentation of the habitat. http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/chf/pub/virtualbird/glossary.html

14. Cutting swaths and patches out of the forest. http://www.epa.gov/maia/html/lessons.html

15. Division of a large forested area into smaller patches separated by areas converted to a different land use. http://www.state.vt.us/anr/fpr/forestry/ucf/glossary.htm

16. Division of a large land area (e.g., forest) into smaller patches isolated by areas converted to a different land type. http://www.cpp.usmc.mil/base/environmental/inrmp/0_glossary.PDF

17. Forest landscapes that are broken and not continuous. http://www.wildlandsprojectrevealed.org/htm/glossary.htm

18. Fragmentation of forest types http://www.hq.nasa.gov/iwgsdi/ISS_SDI_Biodiversity.html

19. Islands of forest habitat that persist on the land when the intervening forest has been removed. http://depts.clemson.edu/extfor/publications/fortp19/definitions.htm

20. Occurs when a large area of a particular habitat is broken up into smaller patches (fragments) by human activities. http://www.mered.org.uk/saraweb/refs/glossary.htm

21. Occurs when large continuous forest patches are converted into one or more smaller patches surrounded by naturally disturbed or developed areas. http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/Planning/RPGLOSS/F.htm

22. Patchwork conversion and development of forest sites (usually the most accessible or most productive ones) that leave the remaining forest in stands of varying sizes and degrees of isolation http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/literatr/avian/avian.htm#f

23. Process of changing a large forested area into an area of forest patches http://www.dsisd.k12.mi.us/mff/Environment/EcologyForests.htm

24. Process of reducing size and connectivity of stands that comprise a forest, eventually isolating forest stands; the creation of habitat islands through harvest, land development or through natural causes such as fire. http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/sixrivers/publications/feis/appedix/g.pdf

25. Subdivision of a forest (or other habitat) into isolated patches, reducing the size and connectivity of stands that compose a forest or landscape. http://fscus.org/html/about_fsc/who_we_are/glossary_of_terms.html#f

26. The breaking up of a habitat, ecosystem or land-use type into smaller, often isolated, parcels, thereby reducing the number of species that the habitat, ecosystem or land-use type can support. http://www.theebi.org/pdfs/glossary.pdf

27. The breaking up of an organism's habitat into discontinuous chunks, particularly for organisms that have difficulty moving from one of those chunks to another. Fragmentation can be caused by removal of vegetation over large areas for human development, or even by small roads breaking up the habitat of (for example) amphibians that are resistant to crossing roads or are frequently killed when crossing roads. Power lines can fragment sage grouse habitat by providing convenient perches for predators such as hawks and ravens. http://www.state.nv.us/nvnhp/ecology/glossary.htm

28. The breaking up of extensive landscape features into disjunct, isolated, or semi-isolated patches as a result of land-use changes http://bch-cbd.naturalsciences.be/belgium/glossary/glos_f.htm

29. The breaking up of habitat into discrete islands through modification or conversion of habitat by management activities. http://www.streamnet.org/pub-ed/ff/Glossary/glossaryhabitat.html

30. The breaking up of large forested tracts into smaller and smaller pieces. http://clear.uconn.edu/publications/forestfrag_summary.pdf  

31. The breaking up of large habitats into smaller, isolated chunks.  http://www.internet.ve/wildlife/glosario.htm and http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/glossary.html

32. The breaking up of something into small, separated pieces. http://www.museum.state.il.us/muslink/forest/htmls/con_frag.html

33. The breaking up of the forest into isolated patches through agriculture and urban development. http://www.unbf.ca/forestry/centers/cwru/soe/gloss.htm

34. The break-up of a large land area (such as a forest) into smaller patches isolated by areas converted to a different land type. The opposite of connectivity. http://roadless.fs.fed.us/documents/feis/glossary.shtml

35. The break-up of continuous habitat by roads, development, or other physical or biological barriers. http://www.nps.gov/olym/edgloss.htm

36. The break-up of extensive habitats into small, isolated patches that are too limited to maintain their species stocks into the indefinite future. http://www.ameteam.ca/glossary.html

37. The carving into parcels or “fragments” of a natural landscape due to such things as cutlines, roads, and other types of clearings. This disturbance is thought to be a major threat to biodiversity because of the creation of barriers to species movement as well as edge effects. http://www.alpac.ca/Forest_Management/image/dfmp%20glossary.pdf

38. The change in the forest landscape, from extensive and continuous forests of old-growth to mosaic of younger stand conditions. http://www.streamnet.org/pub-ed/ff/Glossary/glossaryforest.html

39. The disintegration, collapse, or breakdown of the norms. http://www.chias.org/www/edu/cse/owpglo.html

40. The disruption of extensive habitats into isolated and small patches. Fragmentation has two negative components of biota: loss of total habitat area, and smaller, more isolated remaining habitat patches. https://osiris.cso.uiuc.edu/denix/Public/ES-Programs/Conservation/Biodiversity/glossary.html and https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/ES-Programs/Conservation/Biodiversity/glossary.html

41. The division of a continuous block of forest or other wildlife habitat into disconnected units as a result of human or natural disturbances. http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/cfs/proj/ppiab/ci/gloss_e.html

42. The insularization of habitat on a landscape. http://www.srs.fs.fed.us/sustain/report/terra1/terra1-10.htm

43. The phenomenon of large forested landscapes being broken into separate ownerships and often developed. http://www.forestsystems.com/glossary/glossary.htm

44. The process of reducing size and connectivity of stands that compose a forest. http://www.streamnet.org/pub-ed/ff/Glossary/glossaryforest.html

45. The process of spatial segregation among entities that need to be together in order to function optimally http://themes.eea.eu.int/Sectors_and_activities/transport/indicators/consequences/fragmentation/Fragmentation_TERM_2001.doc.pdf

46. The process of transforming large continuous forest patches into one or more smaller patches surrounded by disturbed areas. This occurs naturally through such agents as fire, landslides, windthrow and insect attack. In managed forests timber harvesting and related activities have been the dominant disturbance agents. http://www.borealforest.org/nwgloss4.htm and http://typhoon.sdsu.edu/nasa_lcluc/forest.html

47. The process whereby a large patch of habitat is broken down into many smaller patches of habitat, resulting in a loss in the amount and quality of habitat. http://chesapeake.towson.edu/landscape/forestfrag/glossary.asp

48. The segmentation of a large tract or continuous tracts of forest to smaller patches often isolated from each other by nonforest habitat.  Results from the collective impact of residential and commercial development, highway, and utility construction, and other piecemeal land use changes http://www.pfmt.org/glossary/f.htm

49. The spatial arrangement of successional stages across the landscape as the result of disturbance; often used to refer specifically to the process of reducing the size and connectivity of late successional or old-growth forests. http://www.lwvwa.org/forest_study/dynamic/glossary.htm

50. The splitting of forestlands into smaller, detached areas as a result of road building, farming, suburban development, and other activities. http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/Extension/ssfor11.htm

51. The subdivision of large natural landscapes into smaller, more isolated fragments. http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/gloss.html

52. The result of broad scale clearing of native vegetation and the small parts of that vegetation that remain often only as isolated patches. http://audit.ea.gov.au/ANRA/vegetation/docs/Native_vegetation/nat_veg_glossary.cfm

Frontier Forest:

1.     Frontier: a region that forms the margin of settled or developed territory b : the farthermost limits of knowledge or achievement in a particular subject c : a line of division between different or opposed things (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

2.     (Chile 2002) Frontier forests in Chile are defined as mature forests or dense timberline forests, of at least 5,000 hectares, that are made up of native species, and are intact or have been only slightly altered. http://pdf.wri.org/gfw_chile_full.pdf

3.     Large, ecologically intact, and relatively undisturbed forests that support the natural range of species and forest functions (WRI definition). http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/deforest/deforest.html  The world's remaining large intact natural forest ecosystems. These forests are -- on the whole -- relatively undisturbed and big enough to maintain all of their biodiversity, including viable populations of the wide-ranging species associated with each forest type. As defined in this assessment, a frontier forest must meet seven criteria (http://www.wri.org/ffi/lff-eng/): 

High Value Forests

1.     High Conservation Value Forests (HCVF) - the concept of High Conservation Value Forests was developed by the Forest Stewardship Council in 1999, which treats the identification of HCVFs as one of the key conditions of principles and criteria for sustainable forest management (Principle 9 of FSC Principles and Criteria). The FSC’s definition of HCVs encompasses exceptional or critical ecological attributes, ecosystem services and social functions as follows: • HCV1 Forest areas containing globally, regionally or nationally significant concentrations of biodiversity values (e.g. endemism, endangered species, refugia).• HCV2 Forest areas containing globally, regionally or nationally significant large landscape level forests, contained within,or containing the management unit, where viable populations of most if not all naturally occurring species exist in natural patterns of distribution and abundance.• HCV3 Forest areas that are in or contain rare, threatened or endangered ecosystems.• HCV4 Forest areas that provide basic services of nature in critical situations (e.g. watershed protection, erosion control). • HCV5 Forest areas fundamental to meeting basic needs of local communities (e.g. subsistence, health). • HCV6 Forest areas critical to local communities’ traditional cultural identity (areas of cultural, ecological, economic or religious significance identified in cooperation with such local communities). http://www.hcvnetwork.org/resources/assessments/BPFM_report_E_book_part1.pdf

2.     High Conservation Value Forests, (2003) Those areas of forest that need to be appropriately managed in order to maintain or enhance the identified High Conservation Values. http://www.proforest.net/objects/publications/HCVF/hcvf-toolkit-part-1-final-updated.pdf

3.     High Conservation Value forests were defined as “forests of outstanding and critical importance due to their high environmental, socio-economic, biodiversity or landscape values”. http://www.hcvnetwork.org/resources/assessments/BRFM%20report_English_low%20resolution.pdf

4.     High Nature Value Forests (HNV Forests), defined in the Guidance Document to Member States (IEEP et al., 2007), are all natural forests and those semi-natural forests in Europe where the management (historical or present) supports a high diversity of native species and habitats, and/or those forests which support the presence of species of European, and/or national, and/ or regional conservation concern. For HNV forests member states need to classify them into three main categories: naturally dynamic, semi-natural and plantations. http://www.hcvnetwork.org/resources/assessments/BRFM%20report_English_low%20resolution.pdf

Human -induced forest:

Human: a bipedal primate mammal (Homo sapiens) (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

Induce: to call forth or bring about by influence or stimulation. (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

If humans are products of nature like all other beings, are then human actions natural actions? 

Indigenous forest (See also Native)

1.     Indigenous - having originated in and being produced, growing, living, or occurring naturally in a particular region or environment (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

2.     A forest predominantly composed of naturally occurring woody plants native to New Zealand. Note: This definition is from the Glossary, page 15 of Indigenous Forest Policy (New Zealand Institute of Forestry, July 1998). It has been accepted as a result of a consultative process amongst members of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry. 

Indigenous (Native) Forest - A forest that occurs naturally, containing a diversity of native and endemic tree species which seed, grow, mature and die within the natural cycle. Indigenous (Native) forests. http://www.forestenterprises.co.nz/cfi/investmentstructure.htm 

See note at end of exotic.

Interior Forest

(Core forest) surrounded by a window containing at least 90% forest, and http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol9/iss2/art13/


Late-Successional Forest:

Forest seral stages which include mature and old-growth age classes. The structure and composition of late-successional and old-growth forest ecosystems have been detailed in numerous publications. Kathy_Jope@nps.gov (Kathy Jope) 

Man-Made Forest:

1.     Man-made: manufactured, created, or constructed by human beings; (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

2.     (Iran) A forest which is established by the cultivation of seeds or seedlings in a forest land or non-forest land for the purpose of establishing a forest. "M.Zobeiri" zobeiri@nrf.ut.ac.ir 

3.     (Vietnam) Man- made forests comprise those established through funding by the Government or non-Governmental entities such as social organisations and voluntary individuals on forest lands. http://coombs.anu.edu.au/~vern/luat/english/CoM-17HDBT-forest-pro.txt Hanoi, January 17th 1992 

Managed Forest

1.     Managed - 1 : to handle or direct with a degree of skill: as a : to make and keep compliant <can't manage her child b : to treat with care : HUSBAND <managed his resources carefully c : to exercise executive, administrative, and supervisory direction of <manage a business <manage a bond issue 2 : to work upon or try to alter for a purpose <manage stress 3 : to succeed in accomplishing : CONTRIVE <managed to escape from prison 4 : to direct the professional career of <an agency that manages entertainers intransitive senses 1 a : to direct or carry on business or affairs; also : to direct a baseball team b : to admit of being carried on 2 : to achieve one's purpose (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

2.     (EU) Managed forests and other wooded land can be defined as areas managed in accordance with a formal or an informal plan applied regularly over a sufficiently long period (five years or more). http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/analysis/external/supply-wood/full_text_en.pdf

3.     A decision to protect or not do something with a stand of trees is a management decision. Thus all forests are managed to one degree or another.

4.     Managed forest is defined as wood that has been certified to a system formally recognized by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and/or the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC). http://www.icfpa.org/_documents/publications/ICFPA%20update%202011%20final.pdf

Mature Stand, Forest:

1.     Mature: 2 a (1) : having completed natural growth and development : RIPE (2) : having undergone maturation b : having attained a final or desired state <mature wine c : having achieved a low but stable growth rate <paper is a mature industry 3 a : of or relating to a condition of full development b : characteristic of or suitable to a mature individual <mature outlook (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

2.     A mappable stand of trees for which the annual net rate of growth has peaked. Stands are generally greater than 80-100 years old and less than 180-200 years old. Stand age, diameter of dominant trees, and stand structure at maturity varies by forest cover types and local site conditions. Mature stands generally contain trees with a smaller average diameter, less age class variation, and less structural complexity than old-growth stands of the same forest type. From: Kathy_Jope@nps.gov (Kathy Jope) 

3.     A loose term for the stage at which most forest components have attained full development, particularly in height and seed production. http://depts.clemson.edu/extfor/publications/fortp19/definitions.htm 

4.     Generally a conifer stand that has reached culmination of mean annual increment, with an average diameter at breast height of at least 21 inches and exhibiting a low degree of decadence; stands are both even-aged and uneven-aged in structure, with varying degrees of understory development, and large diameter snags and down material are present. http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/sixrivers/publications/feis/appedix/g.pdf

Modified Forest

MODIFIED FOREST (part syn. logged-over forest, manipulated forest) The forest cover has been retained but has been affected by uncontrolled timber exploitation or controlled timber harvesting (creaming, selective logging, selection-silvicultural and other systems), or by such intensity of harvesting of non-timber products (tapping of latex, collecting of cane, fruits etc. including elimination, reduction or introduction of tree and other useful species) that its structure, functions and dynamics are noticeably altered beyond the normal effects of natural processes. http://www.itto.or.jp/policy/pds4/page5.html 

Native Forest: (See also Indigenous)

1.     Native - : NATURAL, NORMAL 6 a : grown, produced, or originating in a particular place or in the vicinity : LOCAL b : living or growing naturally in a particular region : (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

2.     Native - A plant or animal originating, growing, or produced in a certain place; Indigenous as opposed to exotic. http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/wildlife/Landowners_Guide/Introduction/Glossary.htm 

3.     Native (species) A species that has arrived and inhabited an area naturally, without deliberate assistance by man, or would occur had it not been removed through past management. For trees and shrubs in the UK usually taken to mean those present after post-glacial recolonisation and before historic times. Some species are only native in particular regions. Differences in characteristics and adaptation to conditions occur more locally - hence 'locally native'. http://www.fsc-uk.demon.co.uk/Appendices.html and Forestry Commission (1998). 

4.     (Australia) Native forests can be broadly classified according to their crown cover as: woodland (tree crowns cover 20-50 per cent of the land when viewed from above); open forest (51-80 per cent crown cover); and closed forest (81-100 per cent crown cover). http://www.nafi.com.au/faq/statistics.html 

5.     (Native vegetation) Any local indigenous plant community containing throughout its growth the complement of native species and habitats normally associated with that vegetation type or having the potential to develop these characteristics. It includes vegetation with these characteristics that has been regenerated with human assistance following disturbance. It excludes plantations and vegetation that has been established for commercial purposes. http://www.environment.gov.au/portfolio/esd/biodiv/strategy/gloss.html 

6.     (UK) Native Tree - Trees that colonised the British Isles after the last ice age and before they were cut off from the rest of Europe by the rising sea levels. Includes the island of Ireland as well as Britain. http://www.u-net.com/trees/p4.htm 

7.     (UK) Native woodlands - woods mainly or entirely of locally native species. Forestry Commission 1998. 

8.     (USA-STATE-Hawaii 1993) “Forest “Native forest” means a forest containing a range of plant species which are endemic or indigenous to Hawaii and represents natural plant communities appropriate to the area. http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/rules/Chap106.pdf 

9.     Any local indigenous community the dominant species of which are trees - see Forest - and containing throughout its growth the complement of native species and habitats normally associated with that forest type or having the potential to develop these characteristics. It includes forests with these characteristics that have been regenerated with human assistance following disturbance. It excludes plantations of native species and previously logged native forest that has been regenerated with non- endemic native species. http://www.rfa.gov.au/nfps/gloss.html 

10. Any local indigenous community, the dominant species of which are trees and containing throughout its growth the complement of native species and habitats normally associated with that forest type or having the potential to develop these characteristics. It excludes plantations of native species and previously logged native forest. http://www.glenelg-hopkins.vic.gov.au/catchmentprofile/glossary.asp

11. Any locally indigenous forest community containing the full complement of native species and habitats normally associated with that community, or having the potential to develop these characteristics. http://www.rfa.gov.au/dfa/other_info/glossary.html 

12. Forests containing a community of indigenous species in varying degrees if succession, and various states of health: including trees, fungi, flowers, insects, understory plants and a host of wildlife. Native forests should be self sustaining by maintaining biological diversity, ecosystem resiliency, and ecological processes. A plantation is not a native forest. Plantations or tree farms vary in their ability to regenerate native forest ecosystems and are established to meet human demands.(Paraphrased from http://www.nfn.org.au/about.htm#def 

13. Forests containing indigenous species in varying degrees if succession, and various states of health. Native forests should be self sustaining by maintaining biological diversity, ecosystem resiliency, and ecological processes. http://www.nfn.org.au/about.htm#def 

14. Indigenous forest types. http://www.schools.wafa.org.au/terms.htm 

15. Native forests are what most of this country still has. Yes plantations are not native forests, but they use native trees, so they should get some points. "Ron Muir" muir@forestry.auburn.edu 

Natural Forest or Woodland:

1.     (Denmark 1994) Natural forest originates from the original forest cover, i.e. a forest reproduced naturally. Natural forest is thus a forest which has spontaneously generated itself on the location and which consists of naturally immigrant tree species and strains. Natural forests can be more or less influenced by culture, e.g. by logging or regeneration techniques, but the forests must not have been subject to regeneration by sowing or planting.  (The National Forest and Nature Agency (Skov- og Naturstyrelsen) 1994), http://www.geus.dk/departments/quaternary-marine-geol/research-themes/env-cli-res-gr-forest-def-uk.htm

2.     (Egypt 2003) Natural forests are those where most of the principal characteristics and key elements of the native ecosystems, such as complexity, structure and diversity are present. http://www.egyptchm.org/chm/implementation/pdf/arid_lands.pdf

3.     (EU) Forests composed of tree species indigenous to the area http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg08/forests/en/en4_6.htm 

4.      (Fiji 2009) closed natural forest (which it defined as natural forest with crown cover by trees and/or ferns of 40–100% and ground cover of palms and/or bamboo of over 20%) http://www.itto.int/direct/topics/topics_pdf_download/topics_id=2648&no=1&disp=inline

5.     (Iran) It is substantiated naturally, without mans' interference. "M.Zobeiri" zobeiri@nrf.ut.ac.ir 

6.     (Nicaragua) - Draft - Bosque Natural. Agrupamiento vegetal con predominio de especies arbóreas conocidas como autóctonas de la zona, asociadas generalmente a una fauna silvestre y condiciones de suelos naturales con ninguna o escasa intervención humana www.nicarao.org.ni/ja (see Borrador de la ley, CAPITULO II DEFINICIONES) Harrie <harnic@ibw.com.ni> 

7.     (Uganda 2008) Forest areas where most of the principle characteristics and key elements of native ecosystems such as complexity, structure and diversity are present (Sophie Higman, et al 2002)  http://www.envalert.org/docs/Inventoryofcriticalissuesinforestry.pdf

8.     (UK) Natural and semi-natural land - Land which is not being cultivated or grazed and which has never been used for development, including scree, cliff, dunes, marsh and beach and land reclaimed from the sea or estuaries which has not yet been grazed or developed. This category includes such land used for recreation. http://www.planning.detr.gov.uk/luc15/annex_b.htm

9.     (UN FAO 2000) Natural forests are forests composed of indigenous trees, not planted by man. Or in other words forests excluding plantations. (UN/ECE-FAO 1997, FAO 1998). 

10. (UN FAO 2005, IPCC 2006) - A forest composed of indigenous trees. http://unfccc.int/files/methods_and_science/lulucf/application/pdf/060830_killmann.pdf

11. (Vietnam) Natural forests comprise all timberlands and bamboo groves of all ages, not excluding young regrowth under rehabilitation. http://coombs.anu.edu.au/~vern/luat/english/CoM-17HDBT-forest-pro.txt Hanoi, January 17th 1992 

12. (World Bank 2000) Forests composed of tree species known to be indigenous to the area. http://www.holz.uni-goettingen.de/ek/woodsat/pdf/worldbankforestry.pdf

13. (WRI) Natural forests are those where most of the principal characteristics and key elements of the native ecosystems, such as complexity, structure and diversity are present. http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/for_cou_188.pdf

14. A forest composed primarily of naturally established indigenous species (by opposition to plantation) http://www.biodiv.org/Forests/Glossary.html 

15. A forest ecosystem with most of the principal characteristics and key elements of native ecosystems such as complexity, structure and diversity. Natural forests lack the abundance of mature trees and freedom from human disturbance that characterize primary forests. http://www.fscstandards.org/regions/southeast/glossary.html 

16. A forest or forest remnant comprising indigenous species of plants (i.e., plant species which are native to a specified area or region in the country). The forest may include naturalised species (i.e., exotic species introduced into or naturally colonised in a region so as to appear native or wild), provided they are not sufficiently abundant or physiognomically dominant so as to alter the general character of the original forest. Natural forest includes unaltered virgin upland and lowland indigenous forest, indigenous forest which has been slightly or significantly modified by human activity but which retains part or most of the general composition or character of the original forest, or indigenous forest which is being managed or exploited primarily for the commercial production of wood. From: New Zealand Forestry Statistics 1997 (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Wellington, 1998) 

17. A forest that has evolved and reproduced itself naturally from organisms previously established, and that has not been significantly altered by human activity. A natural forest may include, but is not equivalent to, an "old-growth forest" http://www.forestry.utoronto.ca/ac_staff/emeritus/My%20Webs/english.htm 

18. A stand of trees resulting from natural seed fall or sprouting. http://msucares.com/pubs/pub1250.htm 

19. A woodland comprising trees that have not been planted by humans, and where no human interference has occurred (Allaby 1994). Helene M Cleveland CCMAIL <hmclevel@aec.apgea.army.mil 

20. An area with an existing stand of naturally grown trees of dipterocarp, premium, and other classified commercial species, as well as other naturally associated forest flora and fauna http://www.bwf.org/laws/DAO_97-04.html 

21. An ecosystem with a hyperbolic distribution of age classes of trees, including a minimum of 10% mature treeshttp://fscus.org/html/standards_policies/us_regional_standards/archives/ozark_ouachita4.html 

22. Ecosystems dominated by trees or shrubs in an original or nearly original fashion through natural generation. This definition includes mangroves. http://www.af.nfr.no/andre-doc/alternativ-agenda/Forests.html,http://nativenet.uthscsa.edu/archive/nl/9208/0081.html and http://www.igc.org/habitat/treaties/at-27.htm

23. Floresta Natural - Formação florestal composta por espécies de ocorrência típica de determinada região, cuja composição obedeça às características próprias da sucessão vegetal. http://www.suzano.com.br/docs/recursos/maneucal/glossar.html 

24. Forest area(s) being managed to protect, maintain, or restore natural composition, structures, and functioning. http://www.silvafor.org/ecocert/sffstandardsforbc.pdf 

25. Forest areas where most of the principal characteristics and key elements of native ecosystems such as complexity, structure and diversity are present as defined by FSC-approved national and regional standards of forest management. http://www.canadian-forests.com/fsc-glossary.html and FSC glossary, printed in the Principles and Criteria document and http://forests.org/ric/good_wood/glossary.htm#anchor975359 

26. Forest areas, including primary forest, where most or all of the principal characteristics and key elements of native ecosystems, such as complexity, structure, and diversity, are present given the physical parameters of climate, geology, hydrology and successional patterns. http://www.canadian-forests.com/fsc-glossary.html and additional FSC terms proposed in the December, 1996 FSC newsletter. 

27. Forest composed of indigenous tree species that is considered undisturbed by human influence. https://www.uni-hohenheim.de/i490a/teaching/M4901-430/ws_03_04/reading_materials/New_Neef_Schwarzmeier_Studie.pdf

28. Forest composed of indigenous tree species that is considered undisturbed by human influence (also known as old-growth forest). http://www.peopleandplanet.net/section.php?section=1&topic=8&PHPSESSID=1a9faae006a4efebfebe57431f0ca5ac

29. Natural - being in accordance with or determined by nature b : having or constituting a classification based on features existing in nature (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

30. Natural Forest. A forest composed of primarily indigenous (native) tree species. Natural forest includes closed forest and open forest. It encompasses all stands, except plantations, and include stands that have been degraded to some degree by agriculture, fire, logging and other factors. http://fiesta.bren.ucsb.edu/~idgec/publications/reports/forest.pdf

31. Natural forests are forests naturally grown but not planted, either virgin forests without any human disturbance or secondary forests with natural generation. www.iges.or.jp/fc/ir99/4-10-lu.pdf 

32. Natural forests contain only the original patterns of biodiversity, the native species occurring in established seral patterns. These formations and processes have not been impacted by humans with a frequency or intensity to change established seral patterns. Ranil Senanayake 100232.3435@CompuServe.COM 

33. Natural regeneration - The natural establishment of trees and other vegetation with at least 400 woody, free-to-grow seedlings per acre, which are capable of reaching a height of at least 20 feet at maturity. http://pilot.wash.lib.md.us/washco/forestcn.html 

34. Nature - the inherent character or basic constitution of a person or thing : ESSENCE b : DISPOSITION, TEMPERAMENT . 2 a : a creative and controlling force in the universe b : an inner force or the sum of such forces in an individual. 3 : a kind or class usually distinguished by fundamental or essential characteristics <documents of a confidential nature <acts of a ceremonial nature 4 : the physical constitution or drives of an organism; especially : an excretory organ or function -- used in phrases like the call of nature 5 : a spontaneous attitude (as of generosity) 6 : the external world in its entirety (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

35. The total area of forest composed primarily of indigenous (native) tree species. http://earthtrends.wri.org/searchable_db/variablenotes_static.cfm?varid=300&theme=9

See Exotic and Managed. If the stand is "managed" is it natural? 

Normal Forest

1.     (India) A normal forest is an ideal forest which serves as a standard with which to compare an actual forest so as to bring out the latter’s deficiencies for sustained yield management. It is a forest which for a given site or given object of management is ideally constructed as regards growing stock, age class distribution and increment and from which the annual or periodic removal of produce equal to the increment can be continued indefinitely without endangering future yields (Mathur, 1968). http://www.rmportal.net/training/content/a-move-from-minor-to-major-competing-discourses-of-non-timber-forest-products-in-india/at_download/file

Old Forest:

1.     Old: dating from the remote past, advanced in years or age, showing the effects of time or use (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

2.     Forested areas that look (have physical structure) and act (have ecological processes) as they might have been in the absence of contemporary human activity (before the year 1850). Old forests are characterized as having: (a) A significant number of trees that approach the biological maximum age for the species present; (b) A complex horizontal and vertical structure, including both live and dead vegetation, that has been shaped or maintained largely by natural disturbances or their functional equivalents; (c) An array of plant and animal species that are endemic to the particular region and location: and (d) Continuity in the above characteristics over large geographic areas (hundreds or thousands of acres). http://www.r5.pswfs.gov/hfqlg/EIS/Glossary.html 

3.     Forests more than 120 years old (Schmidt, Spencer, Hansen 1996). 

4.     Forests that have developed over one to many centuries without a major disturbance (Franklin and Fites in their report on old growth forests in the Sierra Nevada (1996)) Source: Beardsley_Debby/r6pnw_portland@fs.fed.us. Source: APPENDIX I - ISSUES FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION: EXPANDED DISCUSSIONS http://www.psw.fs.fed.us/sierra/appendix_1.html 

5.     Natural old forests represent climax or late succesion stages with slight human impact or without any human impact. http://www.forest.ru/eng/old-growth/definitions.html 

6.     Old single-story forest refers to mature forest characterized by a single canopy layer consisting of large or old trees. Understory trees are often absent, or present in randomly spaced patches. It generally consists of widely spaced, shade-intolerant species, such as ponderosa pine and western larch, adapted to a nonlethal, high frequency fire regime. (b) Old multi-story forest refers to mature forest characterized by two or more canopy layers with generally large or old trees in the upper canopy. Understory trees are also usually present, as a result of a lack of frequent disturbance to the understory. It can include both shade-tolerant and shade-intolerant species, and is generally adapted to a mixed fire regime of both lethal and nonlethal fires. http://www.icbemp.gov/pdfs/deis/eastside/volume1/glossary.pdf

7.     (BRUNEI-2002) “old forest” means forest that has never been clear-felled before and also secondary forest ( belukar tua ) estimatedto be more than 50 years old. Brunei Legislation http://www.commonlii.org/bn/legis/fa46fr309/

Old-Growth Forest:

1.     Future old growth forest: Forests contiguous to old growth forests that (1) exhibits some but not all old growth characteristics, (2) occurs in direct association with and as an integral part of an old growth forest, and (3) has the capacity to protect old growth forest areas because of their forest characteristics and location. http://www.massforesters.org/old.htm 

2.     (Australia-Tasmania) Forest that is ecologically mature forest where the effects of disturbances are now negligible. http://www.forestrytas.com.au/forestrytas/pdf_files/sustainable_forest_management/sfm_2003/glossary.pdf and  http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/Attachments/LJEM-6K32GF/$FILE/Glossary,%20Appendices,%20Index.pdf

3.     (Australia-Victoria) Mountain and foothill eucalypt forest where the majority of the basal area is made up of mature trees which are pre 1890s in origin and nominally 150 years or older. All Otway old growth occurring in State forest is considered to have a history of partial clearing or selective logging. http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/dse/nrenfor.nsf/FID/-1AAD79FB9DE8156C4A25679A0012A998?OpenDocument

4.     (Canada - BC) - Forests on the coast > 250 years old; and forests in the interior > 140 years old for most tree species, and > 120 years old for lodgepole pine and deciduous species. http://www.natareas.org/abstr18.htm 

5.     (Canada - BC) Forest that contains live and dead trees of various sizes, species composition and age class structure that are part of a slowly changing but dynamic ecosystem. Old growth forests include climax forests, but do not exclude sub-climax or even mid-seral forests. The age and structure of old growth varies significantly by forest type and from one biogeoclimatic zone to another. (Wells, et al. 1998) 

6.     (Canada) A stand dominated by mature or overmature trees that has not been significantly influenced by human activity. The stand can contain various ages and species of vegetation. http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/cfs/proj/sci-tech/arena/gloss_e.html#26 

7.     (Finland) A forest stand exceeding the regular cycle by 20 years. Lauri Karvonen 24.4.2000. Guidelines for Landscape Ecological Planning. 

8.     (Foret ancienne, rodal maduro). A forest dominated by mature organisms that have originated naturally from those endemic to the forest or its surrounds, in which the genetic, species and structural diversity have not been significantly changed by human activity. Forestry Chronicle 70(6):669 1994. 

9.     (IUCN) - Forest that resulted from natural succession without human influence. http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/actionplans/grouse/glossary.pdf

10. (NFPS) - Forest that is ecologically mature and has been subjected to negligible unnatural disturbance such as logging, roading and clearing. The definition focuses on forest in which the upper stratum or overstorey is in the late mature to over mature growth phases. http://www.ifa.unimelb.edu.au/issues/wa/oldgrowth.htm 

11. (Philippines) Old Growth - forest predominantly stocked with mature trees with less than 25 percent of the mature stand volume removed by cutting. http://www.nscb.gov.ph/ru12/DEFINE/DEF-ENV.HTM 

12. (Primary, Original) Forests that have never been clear cut and that have little or no evidence of past human activity. Such forests may have been grazed,...experienced limited exploitation of valuable tree species, and their floors may have been burned by Amerindians and European colonists (Duffy and Meier 1992). 

13. (Russia) Old-growth forests are forests originated through natural successions and have not experienced significant human impact over a long period of time. Under significant human impact we understand: clearcutting or intensive selective logging; large scale human-induced fires; intensive and regular application of chemicals such as pesticides, herbicide, fertilizers, etc.; severe industrial pollution; forest reclamation; intensive recreation, etc. Under the long period of time we understand the time, which exceeds the lifetime of the dominant tree species for a particular forest type. http://www.forest.ru/eng/old-growth/index.html 

14. (Timber) -Timber from a mature, naturally established forest (Georgia Forestry Commission). 

15. (USA - USFS - Monongahela NF) - Stands with large, mature, or overmature trees comprising a plurality of the stocking... usually having a multi-layered canopy in trees of various age classes... includ[ing] dead trees and relatively large amounts of decaying material on the forest floor. USDA FS Monongahela National Forest - West Virginia (1986) - http://wvnvm.wvnet.edu/~rlanden/oldgrth.htm 

16. (USA-Massachusetts) --: An area of contiguous forest that (1) shows no evidence of significant human, post-European disturbance that originated on site, (2) has a significant component of older trees that are greater than fifty percent of the maximum longevity for that particular species, (3) is at least five acres in size, and (4) has the capacity for self-perpetuation, or (5) has the characteristics of a forest which, when found in combination together, are indicative of an old growth forest and which otherwise meets the criteria established by regulation by the Secretary. http://www.massforesters.org/old.htm 

17. (USA-Nevada) "Old growth" refers to stands of essentially undisturbed virgin timber on which less than 25 percent of the volume has been removed by cutting, fire or other causes. Source: NRS 528.019 http://www.leg.state.nv.us/web/99NRS/NRS-528.html 

18. (USA-USFS) The USFS has developed Old-Growth definitions for each of the major forest types found in the United States. These are available from the Regional Offices of the US Forest Service. A generic definition is as follows: Ecosystems distinguished by old trees and related structural attributes. Old growth encompasses the later stages of stand development that typically differ from earlier stages in a variety of characteristics which may include tree size, accumulations of large dead woody material, number of canopy layers, species composition, and ecosystem function. Description - The age at which old-growth develops and the specific structural attributes that characterize old growth will vary widely according to forest type, climate, site conditions, and disturbance regime. For example, old-growth in fire-dependent forest types may not differ from younger forests in the number of canopy layers or accumulation of down woody material. However, old-growth is typically distinguished from younger growth by several of the following attributes: 1) large trees for species and site, 2) wide variation in tree sizes and spacing, 3) accumulations of large-size dead standing and fallen trees that are high relative to earlier stages, 4) decadence in the form of broken or deformed tops or bole and root decay, 5) multiple canopy layers, and 6) canopy gaps and understory patchiness. Old-growth is not necessarily "virgin" or "primeval." Old-growth could develop following human disturbances. USFS 1989. 

19. (USA-Vermont) A forest stand in which natural processes and succession have occurred over time undisturbed by human intervention http://www.state.vt.us/anr/fpr/forestry/ucf/glossary.htm Vermont Forest Resource Plan 

20. (Victorian forests) - Forest which contains significant amounts of its oldest growth stage in its upper stratum and has been subjected to any disturbance, the effect of which is now negligible. http://www.rfa.gov.au/documents/oldgrowth/oldgrow.html#E11E3 (Woodgate et al. (1994)). 

21. A mature or overmature forest growth more or less uninfluenced by human activity – called also virgin forest. (Webster’s 1981).

22. A classification of forest stands that describes an ecologically mature ecosystem. Where information is not available for ecological classification, age or size of dominant trees, or both, are used. (Bolsinger and Waddell 1993) 

23. A climax forest that has never been disturbed by man. The old growth forests can be classified as per the age and disturbance criteria. http://www.biodiv.org/Forests/Glossary.html 

24. A forest characterized by growth displaying successional stages that occur only after a relatively long period of time without a catastrophic disturbance. In Minnesota, old-growth forests probably develop after 125-150 years without a catastrophic disturbance. (adapted from Old-growth Forests in Minnesota. A Preliminary Report, Minnesota DNR Natural Heritage Program) http://www.greatplains.org/resource/1999/natural/natural.pdf 

25. A forest containing old trees. (Spies 2004).

26. A forest dominated by mature organisms that have originated naturally from those endemic to the forest or its surrounds, in which the genetic, species and structural diversity have not been significantly changed by human activity http://www.forestry.utoronto.ca/ac_staff/emeritus/My%20Webs/english.htm 

27. A forest dominated by mature trees that has not been significantly influenced by human activity" (CCFM 1997: 124) http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/publications/critical_issues/2000/env_indic/section_07.html

28. A forest or stand that (1) contains at least one, preferably several, tree species that have attained an average age of 150 years or more in the mature specimens; (2) has gone undisturbed by human activity for a time interval sufficient for the establishment of old-growth characteristics, and; (3) contains a density of at least 8 mature trees in the 150 year-old age bracket per acre. Leverett (1991) - http://wvnvm.wvnet.edu/~rlanden/oldgrth.htm 

29. A forest relatively old and relatively undisturbed. NOTE: (1) The term "old" varies by the species or group of species in a stand. (2) Some individuals believe old growth to be an uncut, virgin forest with very little man-made disturbance, while other individuals believe an old growth forest can be created by limiting future disturbance and creating certain characteristics evident in uncut virgin stands and thus termed a managed old growth forest. http://weber.u.washington.edu/~robh/S-7/EcolGlos.html 

30. A forest stand in which natural processes and succession have occurred over a long period of time relatively undisturbed by human intervention. http://www.state.vt.us/anr/fpr/lands/mansfield/appendi.pdf

31. A forest stand usually at least 180-220 years old with moderate to high canopy closure; a multi-layered, multi-species canopy dominated by large overstory trees; high incidence of large trees, some with broken tops and other indications of old and decaying wood ("decadence"); numerous large snags; and heavy accumulations of wood, including large logs on the ground. From: Kathy_Jope@nps.gov (Kathy Jope) also http://www.studyweb.com/Agriculture/ 

32. A forest that contains live and dead trees of various sizes, species, composition, and age class structure. Old-growth forests, as part of a slowly changing but dynamic ecosystem, include climax forests but not sub-climax or mid-seral forests. The age and structure of old growth varies significantly by forest type and from one biogeoclimatic zone to another. http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/pab/publctns/glossary/O.htm and . http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/pab/publctns/frrra/app-c.htm 

33. A forest that contains live and dead trees of various sizes, species, composition and age-class structure. The age and structure of old growth varies significantly by forest type and from one biogeoclimatic zone to another. http://www.interfor.com/glossary/glossary24.html 

34. A forest that has not undergone a stand-replacing disturbance such as logging or fire, such that succession has not occurred. http://www.eresourcesystems.com/Help/Glossary/glossary.html 

35. A forest that is ecologically mature and has been subjected to negligible unnatural disturbance such as logging, roading or clearing. http://www.rfa.gov.au/dfa/other_info/attachd.html

36. A late stage of forest succession. Although the specific characteristics of old-growth stands vary with species composition and history, some commonly expected attributes in mesic forests on productive sites include–an abundance of large trees at least 180 to 200 years old; a multi-layered, multi-species canopy dominated by large overstory trees with moderate to high closure; numerous trees with broken tops, snags, and large logs. http://www.rmrs.nau.edu/publications/rm_gtr_295/glossary.html 

37. A mature forest which has not been disturbed by human activity. Also known as virgin forest. An increasingly rare, and increasingly valued, element of the wilderness. The lumbermen see it as something else, as evidenced in this not-so-subtle definition from an industry web site: Old Growth Forest: Forest stands in which the dominant cover types are mature or over-mature trees that have reached their maximum size. No harvest has occurred among these large, old trees and dead and fallen trees are as common as standing trees. Boundary Waters Compendium Glossary - http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/lists/glossary/ 

38. A natural forest largely unaffected by human activities; a large proportion of the trees will be old and/or large. http://www.forestry.sa.gov.au/pdf/glossary.pdf

39. A natural progression of forest growth without evidence of man's influence. Sydney Haskell, Carmanah Forestry Society. (Wells, et al. 1998) 

40. A primary or a secondary forest which has achieved an age at which structures and species normally associated with old primary forests of that type have sufficiently accumulated to act as a forest ecosystem distinct from any younger age class. UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA 2001

41. A stand of mature or overmature trees relatively uninfluenced by human activity. The stand can contain multiple layers of tree canopies, and various ages and species of vegetation. http://www-env.ccm.emr.ca/schoolnet/issues/borealnet/n_glos/glos.htm and http://atlas.gc.ca/legacy/schoolnet/issues/borealnet/n_glos/glos.htm

42. A stand or forest of mature or overmature trees hitherto uninfluenced by human activity (IUFRO 2000).

43. A very old and complex forest community, usually at least 200 years old, characterized by a mixture of species, trees of varied size and age, snags, and extensive amounts of wood on the forest floor. http://www.nps.gov/olym/edgloss.htm

44. An area of old trees that has been subjected to negligible disturbance from activities such as logging, road building and clearing for agriculture http://www.nafi.com.au/k12/ourforests/glossary.html

45. An ecosystem distinguished by the presence of populations of old trees that is not necessarily in late successional condition or tree from evidence of human activity (Spies 1997).

46. An undisturbed forest with trees that are more than 200 years old. It is characterized by fallen trees, trees with broken tops and mature and dying trees. http://www.nbs.gov/features/kidscorner/glossary.html and http://biology.usgs.gov/features/kidscorner/glossary.html

47. Ancient forests. http://www.nrdc.org/reference/glossary/a.asp

48. Any ecosystem composed of dominant and codominant trees that are mature http://fscus.org/html/standards_policies/us_regional_standards/archives/ozark_ouachita4.html

49. Apost-rotational forest http://www.ameteam.ca/glossary.htm

50. Ecologically mature and have been subjected to negligible human-induced disturbance such as logging, roading and clearing or, if subject to any disturbance, the effect of which is now negligible. Oldgrowth forests are usually dominated by trees which exhibit late-mature or senescent growth stages in the upper stratum. http://www.rfa.gov.au/rfa/vic/east/raa/esfm/gloss1.html

51. Ecologically mature forest that has been subject to negligible levels of disturbance such as logging, roading and clearing. The definition focuses on forest in which the upper stratum or overstorey is in the late mature or overmature growth phase. http://www.rfa.gov.au/dfa/other_info/glossary.html

52. Ecologically mature forest where the effects of disturbances are now negligible'. http://www.rfa.gov.au/documents/oldgrowth/oldgrow.html#E11E3

53. Ecosystems distinguish by old trees and related structural attributes. Old-growth forests are characterized by larger tree size, high accumulations of large dead woody material, multiple canopy layers, species composition, and ecosystem function. The structure and function of an old-growth ecosystem will be influenced by its stand size and landscape position and context. www.superiornationalforest.org/july4thstorm1999/Appendix%20B.doc

54. Ecosystems distinguished by old trees and related structural attributes. Specific attributes vary according to forest type, climate, site conditions, and disturbance regime. http://www.safc.org/resources/glossary.htm#definitions

55. Forest conditions often including multiple canopy layers, variety in tree sizes and species, variety of tree ages including mature trees, and standing and dead woody material. http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/bmp/Plan/glossary.htm

56. Forest having the following structural characteristics: 1. An abundance of old trees, recognizable by the asymmetrical shapes, relatively long trunks free of low branches (i.e., in-forest as opposed to open-grown shapes), deeply furrowed or plated bark, signs of heartwood decay, large prominent root structures, flattened crowns with protruding dead limbs, large thick limbs, and trunks often showing a twist that develops with age; 2. Fallen logs in all stages of decomposition, crisscrossing the forest floor and lying in and across stream beds, covered by moss and lichens; 3. Plentiful snags (standing dead trees); 4. Canopy gaps, large and small, formed from trees that have fallen; 5. Undulating forest floor, expressed in randomly scattered pits and mounds where trees have fallen over and decomposed; 6. Majority of tree species that fall into the late successional class and a conspicuous absence of multiple-stemed trees; 7. Minimal of signs of human disturbance. http://www.canadian-forests.com/fsc-glossary.html and Eastern Old-Growth Forests: Prospects for Rediscovery and Recovery (M.B. Davis (Ed.) 1996. Island Press, Washington, DC).

57. Forest in which the upper stratum is ecologically mature and has been subjected to negligible unnatural disturbance such as logging, road-building and clearing http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/soe/95/28.htm

58. Forest stand dominated by trees reaching natural death; the last stage in forest succession. http://biotech.chem.indiana.edu/search/dict-search.phtml

59. Forest stand dominated by trees reaching natural senescence; the last stage in forest succession. http://www.habitat-restoration.com/paeglos.htm

60. Forest stands well beyond the rotation age for managed forests. Canadian Pacific Forest Products Ltd. (Wells, et al. 1998). 

61. Forest that contains live and dead trees of various sizes, species, composition and age class structures. Old growth forests, as part of a slowly changing but dynamic ecosystem, including climax forests but not sub-climax or mid-seral forests. http://www.luco.gov.bc.ca/lrmp/diamond.htm#60 

62. Forest that has a significant proportion of the oldest discernible growth stage(s) in it's overstory and negligible structural evidence of disturbances. http://www.privateforestry.org.au/glos_o-z.htm

63. Forest that is ecologically mature and has been subjected to negligible unnatural disturbance such as logging, roading and clearing. The definition focuses on forest in which the upper stratum or overstorey is in the late mature to overmature growth phases. (The National Forest Policy Statement (Commonwealth of Australia 1992) identified http://www.rfa.gov.au/documents/oldgrowth/oldgrow.html#E11E3 )

64. Forest which has not had significant unnatural disturbances altering its content or structure since European settlement. http://www.schools.wafa.org.au/terms.htm

65. Forest which is old and structurally mature regardless of past disturbance. http://www.ifa.unimelb.edu.au/issues/wa/oldgrowth.htm 

66. Forest which is old, structurally mature and is undisturbed, little disturbed or there is little evidence of recent disturbance. http://www.ifa.unimelb.edu.au/issues/wa/oldgrowth.htm 

67. Forest which is unlogged, regardless of its age or its structure i.e. virgin forest. http://www.ifa.unimelb.edu.au/issues/wa/oldgrowth.htm 

68. Forest with uninterrupted growth of more than 175 years (mid-latitudes). http://www.yorku.ca/faculty/academic/cblanche/nats2200/n22oldgrowth.html

69. Forests free from disturbance for long enough (generally 150 to 200 years) to have mature trees, physical conditions, species diversity, and other characteristics of equilibrium ecosystems. http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0070294267/student_view0/glossary_m-r.html

70. Forests having a long, uninterrupted period of development... substantially free of human influences or natural disturbances"... Whitney (1987) - http://wvnvm.wvnet.edu/~rlanden/oldgrth.htm

71. Forests that either have never been cut or have not been cut for many decades. Forests characterized by a large percentage of mature trees. http://outreach.missouri.edu/mowin/Resources/glossary/glossaryo.html

72. Forests which have never been logged or developed. - http://www.themouth.org/forest/oldgro.html

73. Forests with some very old trees. These forests have not been disturbed by major hurricanes, fires, or human actions in the last 200 to 250 year . http://omega.cc.umb.edu/~conne/joel/definition.htm

74. Generally, a forest stand that has reached a stage of extreme maturity. http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/wildlife/Landowners_Guide/Introduction/Glossary.htm and http://www.michigandnr.com/publications/pdfs/huntingwildlifehabitat/Landowners_Guide/Introduction/Glossary.htm

75. Individual trees that are beyond the age of biological maturity, or stands that contain old growth trees as well as some large snags, and logs on the ground. http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/Extension/ssfor11.htm

76. JANIS - Old growth forest is ecologically mature forest where the effects of disturbance are now negligible. http://www.ifa.unimelb.edu.au/issues/wa/oldgrowth.htm

77. Jarrah – unlogged (virgin) forest or forest that has been minimally disturbed by logging and is not affected by dieback (Phytophthora cinnamomi). http://www.ifa.unimelb.edu.au/issues/wa/oldgrowth.htm 

78. Karri – unlogged (virgin) forest that is mature and senescent. http://www.ifa.unimelb.edu.au/issues/wa/oldgrowth.htm 

79. Later stages in forest development that are often compositionally and always structurally distinct from earlier successional stages. Franklin and Spies 1991.

80. Later stages of forest development that are often compositionally and always structurally distinct from earlier stages. Old-growth forests contain trees that are large for their species on a site. In addition, old growth is usually charactertized by a variety of tree sizes, abundant large snags and logs, and a developed, but patchy understory. Old-growth typically exhibits high diversity in structural attributes due to varied stand disturbance histories, variable plant species mixes among sites, and interactions with adjacent stands. Structural characteristics are dynamic and old-growth stands do not always contain all of the attributes used to describe them. However, forests that most clearly match the full range of structural features for old-growth will most likely provide the full array of associated functional characteristics. (Mike Chapel, California Board of Forestry) Source: Beardsley_Debby/r6pnw_portland@fs.fed.us

81. Mixed-mesophytic old-growth, includes large trees, basal area, diverse (native) understories, windthrow mounds, snags, woody debris, etc. Martin (1992) - http://wvnvm.wvnet.edu/~rlanden/oldgrth.htm

82. Not synonymous with old-aged forest and must be recognized on the basis of stand characteristics rather than age of trees. Old growth stands contain trees of a wide range of sizes and ages and have a deep, multilayered canopy. They contain large standing dead snags and large down dead trees and other coarse woody debris. Nutrient cycling is low and much energy accumulates on the forest floor. http://www.arcticatlas.org/glossary/index

83. Old forests often containing several canopy layers, variety in tree sizes and species, trees at least 180 to 220 years old, and standing and dead woody material (http://www.umpqua-watersheds.org/glossary/gloss_o.html)

84. Old forests valuable in nature conservation terms have usually greatly exceeded the regeneration ages stipulated in forestry data. The trees are normally of varying sizes and species, and form multiple canopy layers, although spruce forest at a late successional stage also qualifies. Old stumps or other minor traces of human activity do not necessarily reduce the conservation value of a forest. Old age and competition have increased the amount of natural removal, and often also the amount of damage naturally suffered by the trees. The Working Group on the Protection of Old Forests on State Lands in Southern Finland

85. Old forests which often contain several canopy layers, variety in tree sizes and species, decadent old trees, and standing and dead woody material. http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/openspace/Forest/forestgloss.htm

86. Old growth and ancient forests are essentially the same thing. "Ron Muir" muir@forestry.auburn.edu

87. Old growth forest. A contiguous group of stands characterized overall by old-growth trees and in the late-successional stage of development. (Helms 2004).

88. Old growth forests can be loosely described as forests that look largely as they would appear if Europeans had not settled North America. They are forests that have suffered little or no logging or grazing. http://www.earthisland.org/oldgrowth/faq.html

89. Old growth stand – A contiguous group of trees forming a canopy characterized by old-growtn trees and in the late-successional stage of development (Helms 2004).

90. Old growth tree – A tree within approximately 20 percent of maximum observed age for a particular species, site, and location. (Helms 2004).

91. Old growth, virgin forest -- (forest or woodland having a mature or overmature ecosystem more or less uninfluenced by human activity) http://www.notredame.ac.jp/cgi-bin/wn?forestForests which have never been logged or developed. http://www.taconic.net/sequoiainternet/forest/oldgro.htm

92. Old multi-story forest - a forest stand with moderate to high canopy closure—a multi-leveled and multi-species canopy dominated by large overstory trees; high incidence of large trees, some with broken tops and other indications of old and decaying wood; numerous large snags; and heavy accumulations of wood, including large logs on the ground. http://roadless.fs.fed.us/documents/feis/glossary.shtml

93. Old single story forest – single canopy layer consisting of large or old trees. Understory trees are often absent, or present in randomly spaced patches. It generally consists of widely spaced, shade-intolerant species, such as ponderosa pine and western larch, and high frequency fire regimes. http://roadless.fs.fed.us/documents/feis/glossary.shtml

94. Old-growth forest i.e. ancient forest means a natural-state (or close) forest where the amount of dead wood is tens of cubic meters per hectare. Ilkka Hanski (1999) Helsingin Sanomat

95. Old-growth forests are ecologically mature and have been roading and clearing or, if subject to any disturbance, the effect of which is now negligible. Oldgrowth forests are usually dominated by trees which exhibit late-mature or senescent growth stages in the upper stratum. http://www.rfa.gov.au/rfa/vic/east/raa/esfm/gloss2.html 

96. Old-growth forests are natural forests with pronounced variations in the ages of the trees, multiple-layered vegetation, and a great abundance of old trees and large pieces of dead wood in different stages of decay. Swedish FSC standard

97. Old-growth forests contain threatened ecosystems and species, or endemic species. They can also be large landscape-level forests capable of supporting natural ecological patterns . The Taiga Rescue Network

98. Old-growth stands must include at least six trees per acre that are more than 30 to 32" in diameter and more than 200 years in age. The stands must have multilayered canopies (except within mixed evergreen forests) and hold minimal amounts of large standing snags more than 20 " in diameter and fallen logs at least 24" in diameter. 1986 Old-Growth Definition Task Force of the Forest Service interim definition. http://www.woodrow.org/teachers/biology/institutes/1992/old_growth.html

99. Old-growth tree. The closest scientific description is that it's a tree that is beyond its pathological rotation age--or simply a tree living beyond its maturity. http://www.accessatlanta.com/news/business/old_definition.html

100.       Places that have been left alone for a long time, so the natural places of the planet have taken over. Goldstein, Jessica. 2011. Old-growth forest: Nature, uninterrupted. Art, Explained. The Washington Post. 23 October 2011. E-5.

101.       Original, intact forest land that has not yet been significantly degraded by people. http://www.ran.org/ran/info_center/factsheets/basicfacts.html

102.       Relatively old and relatively undisturbed by humans. Hunter (1989) - http://wvnvm.wvnet.edu/~rlanden/oldgrth.htm

103.       Stands in primary or secondary forests that have developed the structures and species normally associated with old primary forest of that type have sufficiently accumulated to act as a forest ecosystem distinct from any younger age class. http://www.biodiv.org/programmes/areas/forest/definitions.asp 

104.       Stands in which the relic trees have died and which consist entirely of trees which grew from beneath the canopy. Oliver and Larson 1996.

105.       Stands in which the relic trees have died and which consist entirely of trees which grew from beneath... and which have developed in the absence of allogenic processes". Transition old-growth "contains some trees which began after the initial disturbance and also large and numerous younger trees of allogenic origin". Oliver and Larson (1996) and Leverett (1996) - http://wvnvm.wvnet.edu/~rlanden/oldgrth.htm

106.       Stands regenerated by natural succession, with a substantial amount of old trees and deadwood, and often with an uneven age structure. http://www.forest.ru/eng/old-growth/definitions.html

107.       Stands that are "overmature, past the point of maximum growth, etc. Leverett (1996) - http://wvnvm.wvnet.edu/~rlanden/oldgrth.htm

108.       Stands with a high percentage (>50%) of the canopy trees over half of the maximum life span of the representative trees, a few trees near the maximum life span, no recorded history or discernible signs of human disturbance, a "late successionary" species composition, and a set of characteristics associated with mature, nature-managed forests. Leverett (1996) - http://wvnvm.wvnet.edu/~rlanden/oldgrth.htm

109.       Stands with canopy trees usually 150 years old or older but no fixed percentage, trees need not be near maximum life span, but forest must possess a set of characteristics associated with mature forest. Leverett (1996) - http://wvnvm.wvnet.edu/~rlanden/oldgrth.htm

110.       The (usually) late successional stage of forest development. note 1- old-growth forests are defined in many ways; generally, structural characteristics used to describe old-growth forests include (a) live trees; number and minimum size of both seral and climax dominants, (b) canopy conditions: commonly including multilayering, (c) snags: minimum number of specific size, and (d) down logs and coarse woody debris: minimum tonnage and numbers of pieces of specific size. note 2 - old-growth forests generally contain trees that are large for their species and site and sometimes decadent (overmature) with broken tops, often a variety of tree sizes, large snags and logs, and a developed and often patchy understory. note 3 - stand age, although a useful indicator of old growth, is often considered less important than structure because (a) the rate of stand development depends more on environment and stand history than age alone, and (b) dominants are often multiaged. note 4 - due to large differences in forest type, climate, site quality, and natural disturbance history (e.g. fire, wind, and disease and insect epidemics), old-growth forests vary extensively in tree size, age classes, presence and abundance of structural elements, stability and presence of understory. note 5 - the minimum area needed for an old-growth forest to be a functional ecological unit depends on the nature and management of surrounding areas; small areas often do not contain all old-growth elements. note 6 - an old-growth forest is commonly perceived as an uncut, virgin forest with very little human-caused disturbance; some believe that the time taken for stands to develop old-growth structure can be shortened by silvicultural treatments which the area occupied by each species per unit area is estimated by eye. note - this method is contrasted with the weight method - synonym ocular plot estimate, plot estimate method, square-foot method (Helms 1998). From: tnygren@juno.com (Harold T Nygren)

111.       The forest-state that stretches from the time of dominant stand height growth cessation, through to and including the stable forest climax. Western Canada Wilderness Committee. (Wells, et al. 1998).

112.       The old growth forests have been described by the adjective primeval, ancient, wilderness, virgin, pristine while in forester's terminology they are called as over-matured, decadent, and senescent, old growth. The old growth forests may be defined as a climax forest that has never been disturbed by man. The old growth forests can be classified as per the age and disturbance criteria. http://glossary.eea.eu.int/EEAGlossary/O/old-growth_forest

113.       The seral stage after mature, which is the potential plant community capable of existing on a site, given the frequency of natural disturbance events. In forests of the Pacific region, old growth often begins around age 200 and continues until a stand replacing event takes place. Depending on the frequency and intensity of disturbances, and site conditions, old-growth forest will have different structures, species compositions, and age distributions http://fscus.org/html/standards_policies/us_regional_standards/archives/pacificnorthwest3.html

114.       Those mature and over-mature forests which occupy sites which have not previously been impacted by the hand of man. Fletcher Challenge Ltd. (Wells, et al. 1998).

115.       Timber stands with the following characteristics: large mature and over-mature trees in the overstory, snags, dead and decaying logs on the ground, and a multi-layered canopy with trees of several age classes. http://rredc.nrel.gov/biomass/states/bio_glossary/glossary.html and http://www.eren.doe.gov/biopower/glossary.html#F and http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/faqs/glossary.html#T

116.       To most people "old growth" means big trees. The U.S. Forest Service definition is "a forest with trees 200 years or older, snags (standing dead trees), and down woody debris on the forest floor." http://www.forestinfo.org/Glossary.htm

117.       Uncut virgin forest; A forest that has not undergone a stand-replacing disturbance such as logging or a crown fire, such that succession has not occurred. http://www.fw.vt.edu/zedaker/3364/ecolterms.html

118.       Undisturbed primary forest, typically diverse in species and age of constituents, and is a result of competition and long-time natural selection International Dendrological Research Institute Glossary - http://world.std.com/~jegan/idriglossary.html

119.       Very old forests that have not been logged; closed-canopy conditions http://www.calwild.org/resources/pubs/linkages/appendF.pdf

120.       Virgin and old, second-growth forests containing trees that are often hundreds, sometimes thousands, or years old. http://www.gsu.edu/~mstnrhx/ecogloss.htm and http://ecology.org/biod/library/glos_NS.html

121.       Virgin timber. http://rredc.nrel.gov/biomass/forest/tim_glossary/t_glossary.html#O

Most definitions of old growth forest suggest they are mature forests that are losing productivity. In a sense, old growth forests are "degraded" forests. They are also managed forest in the sense that a decision may have been made to spare the trees.


Original Forest:

Original - 1 : of, relating to, or constituting an origin or beginning (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary) 

That estimated to have covered the planet about 8,000 years ago, before large-scale disturbance by modern society began. (http://www.wri.org/ffi/lff-eng/

(WCMC) Original forest is defined as the post-glacial forest cover which existed around 7000 years ago and is derived from maps of potential vegetation. http://www.panda.org/downloads/forests/wcmcflrmapping.pdf

Using Webster's definition, an area recently afforested would be considered an original forest.

Patch Forest

Patch forest comprises coherent forest regions that are too small to contain core forest. http://www.springerlink.com/content/j1un144n10086417/fulltext.pdf

Perforated Forest

Perforated forest defines the boundaries between core forest and relatively small perforations http://www.springerlink.com/content/j1un144n10086417/fulltext.pdf

Plantation forests (Forest Cultures) –

1.     (AFF 2011) Forest plantations – a subset of all planted forests – are defined as forests of introduced species and in some cases native species, established through planting or seeding, with few species, even spacing and/or even-aged stands. African Forest Forum. http://www.afforum.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=43&Itemid=

2.     (Artificial crop, artificial stand ~ man-made forest) - A stand raised artificially, either by planting or by direct sowing (South 1998). 

3.     (Colombia) Plantación Forestal: Es el bosque originado por la intervención directa del hombre. (Decreto 1791 octubre 4 de 1996. Ministerio del Medio Ambiente). "Gerardo Lozano" <glozano@impsat.net.co 

4.     (Egypt 2003) Plantations are areas which result from the human activities of planting, sowing or intensive silvicultural treatments, and lack most of the principal characteristics and key elements of native ecosystems. According to FSC, certified plantations should decrease the pressures on natural forests, have diversity in composition in species and age classes, preferentially choose native over exotic species, serve to improve soil function, fertility and structure, and have some proportion of their area managed for the restoration of natural forest cover http://www.egyptchm.org/chm/implementation/pdf/arid_lands.pdf

5.     (EU) Forest crop established by seeding or planting nursery-raised stock http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:europa.eu.int/comm/dg08/forests/en/en4_6.htm and http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/forests/en/en4_6.htm 

6.     (Georgia) Stand of seeded or planted wood species. Source: Forest Code (June, 1999) Kate Metreveli, Head of the WB Forestry, Project Preparation Unit. kattimet@geo.net.ge 

7.     (Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Region (Canada)) Tree-dominated vegetated areas in which human intervention, through planting or intensive silvicultural treatments, has yielded conditions in which only a few of the characteristics of the indigenous natural forest ecosystem remain. [Draft standards for the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Region (Canada) http://www.web.net/fscca/s5.htm 

8.     (Indonesia - 2002) Forest stands established by planting and/or seeding in the process of afforestation or reforestation. They comprise either introduced species (all planted stands) or intensively managed stands of indigenous species. Plantations may be established to provide wood products (timber, pulp) or such agricultural crops as oil palm and coconut. http://www.globalforestwatch.org/common/indonesia/sof.indonesia.english.low.pdf

9.     (Morocco and Yemen) Plantation (Arabic : Ard Mushajjarah, French : Platation, Spanish : Plantacion) - Land planted artificially (by man) with forest trees (regular spacing) Mohammed Ellatifi, m.ellatifi@ellatifi.8m.com 

10. (Nicaragua) - Draft - Bosque de Plantaciones: Son los que se realizan por medio de la reforestación. www.nicarao.org.ni/ja (see Borrador de la ley, CAPITULO II DEFINICIONES) Harrie <harnic@ibw.com.ni> 

11. (South Africa) Single species (usually either pine or eucalyptus), regular spacing, even-aged stands. http://www.polity.org.za/govdocs/green_papers/forest1.html#t1.1 

12. (Timber) - The most intensive form of forest management. It is characterized by monocultures of fast-growing tree species (e.g. poplar, Pinus radiata, eucalyptus), short rotation lengths (< 60 years), stand regeneration by planting, application of soil fertilization and tillage, pest control and other measures aimed at increasing timber yields. Plantations are a transitional form between forestry and agricultural land use. Most afforestation takes the form of this type of management. http://www.awi-bremerhaven.de/WBGU/wbgu_sn1998_voll_engl.html 

13. (UK) Woodland where the current trees have been planted. Often includes naturally regenerating trees as well. Includes former semi-natural woodlands restocked by planting [Source: THE UK FORESTRY STANDARD. The Government's Approach to Sustainable Forestry, EDINBURGH: FORESTRY COMMISSION, 1998 http://www.forestry.gov.uk/standard.html and http://www.forestry.gov.uk/standard.pdf 

14. (Ukraine) Forest stands created by planting of seedlings, saplings of trees or shrubs or by sowing of their seeds'', i.e. it here this means only origination of stands, not intensity of management. [Source: State Standard of Ukraine, DSTU 2980-95 ``Forest plantations. Terms and definitions'', being in force since 01.01.96. From: "Maksym Polyakov" mpoliak@pcomp.usau.kiev.ua Date: Sat, 28 Mar 1998 21:09:08 +0200 (UKR)] 

15. (UN FAO 2000) Forest stands established by planting and/or seeding in the process of afforestation or reforestation which are either of introduced species (all planted stands) or intensively managed stands of indigenous species, which meet all the following criteria: one or two species at plantation, even age class, regular spacing.. (UN/ECE-FAO 1997 and FAO 1998) 

16. (UN FAO 2005)  Planted forest - Forest/other wooded land in which trees have been established through planting or seeding. Includes all stands established through planting or seeding of both native and introduced species. http://unfccc.int/files/methods_and_science/lulucf/application/pdf/060830_killmann.pdf

17. (UN FAO 2005, IPCC 2006) - Forest/other wooded land of introduced species and in some cases native species, established through planting or seeding. 1. Includes all stands of introduced species established through planting or seeding. 2. May include areas of native species characterized by few species, even spacing and/or even-aged stands 3. Plantation forest is  asub-set of planted forest. http://unfccc.int/files/methods_and_science/lulucf/application/pdf/060830_killmann.pdf

18. (UN FAO) A forest established by planting and/or seeding in the process of afforestation or reforestation. It consists of introduced species or, in some cases, indigenous species. (http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/y0900e/y0900e11.htm#P1_7

19. (USA  Pacific Coast region) - Tree-dominated areas substantially lacking in natural forest attributes (e.g., structure, and species composition native to the area) and that usually require human intervention. A "planted forest" is not necessarily a "plantation," since it may attain natural forest attributes. In the Pacific Coast region, any of the following characteristics may indicate that a forest is a plantation (though not necessarily one that is certifiable): Cultivation of exotic species, Use of even-aged silviculture for forest types that do not regenerate naturally through stand-replacing events, Use of even-aged silviculture with rotations of less than 60 years, Use of even-aged regeneration units larger than those specified under criterion 9.2, Systematic use of and reliance on chemical herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers, Single-species plantings on sites normally occupied by multiple-species forests, and Regular, periodic stand treatments intended to eliminate natural ingrowth of native trees and associated ground vegetation. [Draft standards for the Pacific Coast Region (US) From: David South <dsouth@sofserv.forestry.auburn.edu Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 16:45:07 -0500] 

20. (USA) Areas dominated by trees planted on a regular and generally consistent row and plant spacing. Stands are planted for the purpose of producing a crop of timber, Christmas trees, or other products. Examples include planted hardwood and softwood timber stands. [Source: http://biology.usgs.gov/fgdc.veg/standards/appendix3.htm

21. (WAF 2004) - Type of forest that is artificially established and cultivated for industrial, conservation and agroforestry purposes (usually fast-growing species planted). http://www.worldagroforestry.org/sea/Publications/files/book/BK0073-04.PDF

22. (World Bank 2000) Established artificially by afforestation on lands previously non-forested within living memory, or established artificially by reforestation on land that was forested, by replacement of the indigenous species with a new and essentially different species or genetic variety. . http://www.holz.uni-goettingen.de/ek/woodsat/pdf/worldbankforestry.pdf

23. (WRI) Plantations are areas which result from the human activities of planting, sowing or intensive silvicultural treatments, and lack most of the principal characteristics and key elements of native ecosystems. According to FSC, certified plantations should decrease the pressures on natural forests, have diversity in composition in species and age classes, preferentially choose native over exotic species, serve to improve soil function, fertility and structure, and have some proportion of their area managed for the restoration of natural forest cover. http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/for_cou_188.pdf

24. A forest crop established by artificial, either by sowing or planting. Canadian Council of Forest Ministers 

25. A forest stand established by the planting of trees either native or exotic species elected for their wood-producing properties and managed intensively for timber. http://www.rfa.gov.au/rfa/vic/east/raa/esfm/gloss2.html 

26. A forest that has been planted as a crop for eventual harvest. Most plantation forests are replanted following harvest for second and subsequent rotations in perpetuity. http://www.forestenterprises.co.nz/cfi/investmentstructure.htm 

27. A forest which has been planted by people with species occurring naturally (native species plantation) or not (exotic species plantation) in that country. http://www.biodiv.org/Forests/Glossary.html 

28. A group of planted trees grown in the form of an agricultural crop http://www.nafi.com.au/k12/ourforests/glossary.html 

29. A large area of trees usually planted specifically for harvesting. http://www.timberlands.co.nz/environment/manual/chap_16.pdf 

30. A plantation forest may be afforested land or a secondary forest established by planting or direct seeding. A gradient exists among plantation forests from even-aged, single species monocultures of will probably also reflect the capability of the plantation forest to maintain "normal" local biological diversity. http://www.biodiv.org/programmes/areas/forest/definitions.asp 

31. A planted forest of either native or exotic species. Small plantation may be called blocks or woodlots. http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/web/root/domino/infseries/infsheet.nsf/3b1939c497704dc14a25652e0039a43b/962f757481adad504a25679c000c7c44?OpenDocument 

32. A stand of trees resulting from planting or artificially seeding a harvested area. http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/sixrivers/publications/feis/appedix/g.pdf

33. All forests established by planting or seeding in the processes of afforestation and reforestation. http://greenplanet.eolss.net/EolssLogn/mss/C09/E4-27/E4-27-08/E4-27-08-04/E4-27-08-04-TXT.aspx#Glossary_

34. An area of managed forest where the trees have been planted, rather than grown naturally through regeneration (NGGIC 1997). http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/ncas/files/strategic/glossary.html 

35. An artificially forested area established by planting or direct seeding. It is usually made up of a single species. http://msucares.com/pubs/pub1250.htm 

36. Crops of trees artificially established, primarily for specific commercial purposes. http://www.af.nfr.no/andre-doc/alternativ-agenda/Forests.htmlhttp://www.igc.org/habitat/treaties/at-27.htm and http://nativenet.uthscsa.edu/archive/nl/9208/0081.html 

37. Floresta Plantada - Formação florestal composta por espécies exóticas e/ou nativas, plantadas com objetivos específicos. http://www.suzano.com.br/docs/recursos/maneucal/glossar.html 

38. Forest areas lacking most of the principal characteristics and key elements of native ecosystems as defined by the Forest Stewardship Council -approved national and regional standards of forest stewardship, which result from the human activities of either planting, sowing or intensive silvicultural treatments (South 1998). http://www.metla.fi/archive/forest/1994/07/msg00035.html. PRINCIPLES AND CRITERIA FOR FOREST STEWARDSHIP. Revised March 1996, edited October 1996 and http://biodiversityeconomics.org/business/topics-101-07.htm 

39. Forest established artificially on lands that did not previously contain forests. http://www.peopleandplanet.net/section.php?section=1&topic=8&PHPSESSID=1a9faae006a4efebfebe57431f0ca5ac 

40. Forest established artificially on lands that did not previously contain forest (afforestation) or on lands that were previously forested (reforestation). https://www.uni-hohenheim.de/i490a/teaching/M4901-430/ws_03_04/reading_materials/New_Neef_Schwarzmeier_Studie.pdf

41. Forest plantation is one established by planting or/and seeding in the process of afforestation or reforestation. It consists of introduced species or, in some cases, indigenous species. http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/deforest/deforest.html

42. Forest stands established by planting or/and seeding in the process of afforestation or reforestation. They are either: - of introduced species (all planted stands), or - intensively managed stands of indigenous species which meet all the following criteria: one or two species at plantation, even age class, regular spacing. Excludes: stands which were established as plantation but which have been without intensive management for a significant period of time. These should be considered semi-natural (UN-ECE/FAO 1997). 

43. Forest stands that have been established artificially to produce a forest product crop. They are either on lands that previously have not supported forests for more than 50 years (afforestation), or on lands that have supported forests within the last 50 years and where the original crop has been replaced with a different one (reforestation) (Brown et al. 1986). 

44. Forests established artificially, either by afforestation on land which has not carried forest within living memory or by reforestation of land which carried forest before but where the indigenous species are replaced with a new species or genetic variety http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:europa.eu.int/comm/dg08/forests/en/en4_6.htm 

45. Forests or woods that have been planted. http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/hcou-4ubj75 

46. Forests that are planted as a crop. - http://www.forestenterprises.co.nz/cfi/investmentstructure.htm 

47. Include contiguous areas of planted trees occupying areas greater than one hectare. http://www.srs.fs.fed.us/pubs/ja/ja_parks002.pdf

48. Intensively managed stands of either native or exotic trees species, created by the regular placement of seedlings or seed. http://www.rfa.gov.au/dfa/other_info/glossary.html 

49. Plantation: a usually large group of plants and especially trees under cultivation (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

50. Plantations area describes forest stands established artificially by afforestation and reforestation for industrial and non-industrial usage. http://earthtrends.wri.org/searchable_db/variablenotes_static.cfm?varid=304&theme=9

51. Plantations. Forest stands established artificially by afforestation and reforestation for industrial and nonindustrial usage. http://fiesta.bren.ucsb.edu/~idgec/publications/reports/forest.pdf

52. Planted Forests - These forests have been established by planting or sowing on barren land, grassland, land cleared of secondary forest or scrub, land cleared of primary or modified forest. http://www.itto.or.jp/policy/pds4/page5.html 

53. Planted stand of trees (WESTVACO) 

54. Plot of land occupied by fast-growing or `technical' forest species with the aim of producing timber with short rotation or producing bark, (willow) withes, seeds, grafts etc. our term <[forest] plantation can be translated to English as -- [forest] plantation, -- seed orchard.... [From: "Maksym Polyakov" mpoliak@pcomp.usau.kiev.ua Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 11:20:37 +0300 (MSD)] 

55. This category includes artificial forests created by sowing or planting trees and forest stands improved by introduction of valuable tree species. Forest plantations are divided into two categories: plantations with closed crown canopy (registered as forest), and plantations which did not yet form closed crown cover. (ref. Forest stock, Forest plantation which did not yet for closed crown cover). Minimum mapping unit 0.5 ha. http://ewg.gecp.virginia.edu/ewg_forest_us/general/glossary.htm 

56. Tree Plantations, are simplified tree dominated ecosystems that have suppressed natural succession patterns. They have a poor capacity to mature into natural forest systems and lie on lands cleared of native vegetation. Often, they contain elements of exotic species. Tree plantations vary from the industrial monocultures to diverse home gardens. Tree plantations do not have the capacity to mature into natural forest systems. Ranil Senanayake 100232.3435@CompuServe.COM 

57. Tree-dominated areas substantially lacking in natural forest attributes (e.g. structure and species composition native to the area) that usually require human intervention in order to be maintained. A "planted forest" is not necessarily a "plantation" since it may be part of a management regime that maintains most natural forest attributes indigenous to the area. The Pacific Coast Working Group of FSC-US 

58. Tree-dominated vegetated areas in which human intervention, through planting or intensive silvicultural treatments, has yielded conditions in which only a few of the characteristics of the indigenous natural forest ecosystem remain. (defined by FSC A.C.) http://fscus.org/html/standards_policies/us_regional_standards/archives/pacificnorthwest3.html

59. Trees usually of a single species planted on cleared land for the purpose of growing a product such as wood. http://schools.wafa.org.au/terms.htm

Pioneer species:

Aggressive species, tolerant to minimal habitat harsh, all competing initially for sunlight and growth room. http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/5974/

Primary (Woodland) Forest:

1.     Primary - 1 a : first in order of time or development : PRIMITIVE <the primary stage of civilization b : of or relating to formations of the Paleozoic and earlier periods 2 a : of first rank, importance, or value : (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

2.     (AMEC definition derived from World Bank) “This forest is relatively intact 'natural forest' and essentially unmodified by human activity. The forest shows no signs of fire, logging in the form of infrastructure such as railways or canals. Local people may be present in sufficient low numbers or under take activities that leave the forest in near-natural condition. The forest does not have adjacent activities that in the near future might essentially modify the natural forest cover, or leave the forest in other than near-natural condition. Some of these primary forest areas are critical habitats if they occur in existing 'protected areas' and or in areas that are being proposed for Protection Forest status under provincial land use planning legislation.” (2005) http://eyesontheforest.or.id/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=5

3.     (EU) Relatively intact natural forest which has remained essentially unmodified by human activity for the past 60-80 years http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg08/forests/en/en4_6.htm, http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/forests/en/en4_6.htm and http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=1985&page=670

4.     (IISD 1999) A forest in a mature succession phase, whose structure and composition have resulted from unrestrained ecological processes rather than from human activity. http://www.iisd.org/pdf/wcfsdsummary.pdf IISD 1999.

5.     (Indonesia) Primary forest - Areas covered by original virgin forests under dry or not permanently inundated conditions. Source: D.C. Schwaar, Land capability appraisal Indonesia, AGL/INS/72/011 Working Paper No.5, FAO 1973 http://www.fao.org/ag/agl/agll/landuse/clsys/Indonesia.htm

6.     (Nicaragua) - Draft - Bosque Primario: Bosque relativamente intacto que esencialmente no ha sido modificado por la actividad humana durante los últimos 60 a 80 años. www.nicarao.org.ni/ja (see Borrador de la ley, CAPITULO II DEFINICIONES) Harrie <harnic@ibw.com.ni> 

7.     (Thailand) Forest which are in a close or natural unidusturbed state. The report of Thailand's National Greenhouse Gas Inventory, 1990 "Wilailak Pangtawaong" wpangtaw@deqp.go.th 

8.     (UN EP 2003) A forest that has never been logged and that has developed following natural disturbances and under natural processes, regardless of its age. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1030&context=usdafsfacpub

9.     (UN FAO 2005, IPCC 2006) - Forest/Other wooded land of native species, where there are no clearly visible indications of human activities and the ecological processes are not significantly disturbed. Includes areas where collection of non-wood forest products occurs, provided the human impact is small. Some trees may have been removed. http://unfccc.int/files/methods_and_science/lulucf/application/pdf/060830_killmann.pdf

10. Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: http://www.iisd.ca/climate/cop13/enbots/images/generic/fondoarriba.jpg(World Bank 1999) Relatively intact forest that has been essentially unmodified by human activity for the past sixty to eighty years. http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/1999/09/17/000178830_98101901520841/Rendered/INDEX/multi0page.txt

11. (World Bank 2000) Relatively intact forest that has been essentially unmodified by human activity for the past 60 to 80 years. . http://www.holz.uni-goettingen.de/ek/woodsat/pdf/worldbankforestry.pdf

12. A climax forest comprising primary or climax species, i.e. a forest that either has not been severely disturbed or has fully recovered from disturbance by a secondary succession - John Morrison john.GISLAB@WWFUS.ORG 

13. A forest ecosystem with the principal characteristics and key elements of native ecosystems such as complexity, structure, and diversity and an abundance of mature trees, relatively undisturbed by human activity. Human impacts in such forest areas have normally been limited to low levels of hunting, fishing and harvesting of forest products. Such ecosystems are also referred to as "mature," "old-growth," or "virgin" forests. http://www.fscstandards.org/regions/southeast/glossary.html 

14. A forest in a mature succession phase whose structure and composition have resulted from unrestrained ecological processes rather than from human activity. http://iisd1.iisd.ca/wcfsd/wcfsdsummary.pdf 

15. A forest largely undisturbed by human activities. http://www.wri.org/wri/biodiv/gbs-glos.html#OPQ 

16. A forest occupying a site that has been continuously forested* even though it may have been clear-felled, provided that the clear-felling does not break the forest continuity (i.e. the forest regenerated or was replanted) (Allaby 1994). 

17. A forest that has never been logged and has developed following natural disturbances and under natural processes, regardless of its age. http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/deforest/deforest.html

18. A forest that has never been logged and has developed following natural disturbances and under natural processes, regardless of its age. It is referred to "direct human disturbance" as the intentional clearing of forest by any means (including fire) to manage or alter them for human use. Also included as primary, are forests that are used inconsequentially by indigenous and local communities living traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. In much of Europe, primary forest has a different connotation and refers to an area of forest land which has probably been continuously wooded at least throughout historical times (e.g., the last thousand years). It has not been completely cleared or converted to another land use for any period of time. However traditional human disturbances such as patch felling for shifting cultivation, coppicing, burning and also, more recently, selective/partial logging may have occurred, as well as natural disturbances. The present cover is normally relatively close to the natural composition and has arisen (predominantly) through natural regeneration, but planted stands can also be found. However, the suggested definition above would include other forests, such as secondary forests. http://www.biodiv.org/programmes/areas/forest/definitions.asp 

19. A forest that has never been logged or disturbed. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/plants/glossary/indexp.shtml 

20. An ecosystem characterized by an abundance of mature trees, relatively undisturbed by human activity. Human impacts in such forest areas have normally been limited to low levels of hunting, fishing and harvesting of forest products, and, in some cases, to low density, shifting agriculture with prolonged fallow periods. Such ecosystems are also referred to as "mature," "old-growth" or "virgin" forests. (further details will be addressed by FSC-approved national and regional standards of forest stewardship) PRINCIPLES AND CRITERIA FOR FOREST STEWARDSHIP. Revised March 1996, edited October 1996, http://www.canadian-forests.com/fsc-glossary.html, and http://www.fscus.org/html/about_fsc/who_we_are/glossary_of_terms.html#p 

21. An old-growth or ancient forest, that has kept recycling for thousands of years. http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/5974/ 

22. Areas where the primary lot pattern consists of lots of record (as defined by the Multnomah County zoning code for Commercial Forest Use-zoned areas) in excess of 40 acres and where there are few existing residences. Primary forest lands may include smaller lots of record which do not by themselves meet the definition, but which are isolated from other smaller lots of record by lands which do meet the definition of primary forest lands. The second, which shall be designated as COMMERCIAL FOREST - 2, consists of the remainder of the Commercial forest Use-zoned areas. Secondary forest lands are defined as areas consisting of contiguous lots of record less than 40 acres, many of which have existing residences. Secondary forest lands may include larger lots of record which by themselves do not meet the definition, but which are isolated from other larger lots of record by lands which do meet the definition of secondary forest lands http://www.multnomah.lib.or.us/lup/WestHills/WHHome.html 

23. Forest in an undisturbed or virgin state. http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/wherewework/congo/WWFBinaryitem2900.pdf

24. Forest in its natural state, unmodified by human activity (i.e., with negligible impact from human gathering activities, including the rare cutting of isolated timber trees). This refers to forest structure, and not to its fauna, or its size. Hunting may have removed certain species (e.g. large mammals), but the forest stand remain undisturbed. (2005) http://eyesontheforest.or.id/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=5

25. Forest that has never been harvested or otherwise disturbed at a large scale by humans. http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/forestry/Look/assessment/11.pdf 

26. Forest that has remained undisturbed for a long time and has reached a mature condition. http://www.arkive.org/pitcher-plant/nepenthes-ovata/glossary-and-references.html

27. Intact forest that has been essentially unmodified by human activity for the past sixty to eighty years. http://www.wrm.org.uy/actors/WB/1994policy.html 

28. Land which has never been anything other than woodland since the end of the last Ice Age, although it may have been regularly harvested. . http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/glossary/indexfr.htm The Woodland Trust Glossary 

29. One that has not been disturbed by anthropogenic action such as grazing, logging, road building, chemical deposition, or by frequent fires. A "primary forest" is also of sufficient size that it is capable of regenerating all the endogenous species that inhabit or dwell there. From: John Foster "J. Foster" borealis@mail.wellsgray.net 

30. PRIMARY FOREST (syn. pristine, virgin, or old growth forest) Forest which has never been subject to human disturbance, or has been so little affected by hunting and gathering that its natural structure, functions and dynamics have not undergone any unnatural change. http://www.itto.or.jp/policy/pds4/page5.html 

31. Primary forest is defined as relatively intact forest that has been essentially unmodified by human activity for the previous 60 to 80 years. http://www.worldtwitch.com/citigroup.htm

32. Relatively intact forest that has been essentially unmodified by human activity for the past sixty to eighty years; an ecosystem characterized by an abundance of mature trees. Human impacts in such forests have been limited to low levels of artisanal hunting, fishing, and harvesting of forest products, and, in some cases, low density migratory agriculture (World Bank 1991). http://www.wrm.org.uy/actors/WB/1991policy3.html 

33. Relatively intact forest that has been essentially unmodified by human activity for the past sixty to eighty years https://www.uni-hohenheim.de/i490a/teaching/M4901-430/ws_03_04/reading_materials/New_Neef_Schwarzmeier_Studie.pdf

34. The forest area that is still very dense and undisturbed. This type of forest includes tropical evergreen forest, tropical rain forest, and some dense mixed deciduous forest. http://www.gisdevelopment.net/aars/acrs/1997/ts5/ts5007pf.htm

35. Woodland occupying a site which has been continuously wooded (in Britain since the last ice advance) even though it may have been clear-felled, provided that the clear-felling does not break the woodland continuity [i.e. the woodland regenerated or was replanted] (Allaby 1994). Helene M Cleveland CCMAIL hmclevel@aec.apgea.army.mil 

36. Woodland that has had continuous cover of native trees throughout history http://www.tnw.org.uk/Note17.html 

37. Woodland unaffected by any human influence or activity. it is the original ‘wildwood' growing naturally following the end of the last ice age around 13,000 years ago. http://www.peakdistrict-nationalpark.info/place/glossary.html

Primeval Forest:

1.     Primeval of or relating to the earliest ages (as of the world or human history) : ANCIENT, PRIMITIVE <100 acres of primeval forest which has never felt an ax -- Mary R. Zimmer (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

2.     Ice Age forests - Bonnicksen (2000) 

See "old-growth" forest.  http://www.nps.gov/olym/edgloss.htm

See note at end of "original" forest. 

Pristine Forest:

1.     Pristine - 1 : belonging to the earliest period or state : ORIGINAL <the hypothetical pristine lunar atmosphere. 2 a : not spoiled, corrupted, or polluted (as by civilization) : PURE <a pristine forest b : fresh and clean as or as if new <pristine hard-backs in uniform editions to fill our built-in bookcases -- Michiko Kakutani (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

2.     "Pristine" forests gives the idea of no human interaction. "Ron Muir" <muir@forestry.auburn.edu 

3.     Stands that had been undisturbed by humans (Beardsley_Debby/r6pnw_portland@fs.fed.us). 

See note at end of "original" forest.

Reference Forest:

''Reference historic forest'' means the way a whole forest appeared spreading over a landscape, with all of its diversity, at or about the time it was first seen by European explorers. http://www.calforests.org/foundation_what_the_experts_say-422-Restoration_Forestry.htm

Regrowth forest -

Native forest containing a substantial proportion of trees that are in the younger growth phase and are actively growing in height and diameter. Regrowth forests may contain scattered individuals or small occurrences of ecologically mature, or old growth, trees. http://www.rfa.gov.au/dfa/other_info/glossary.html

Secondary (Woodland) Forest:

1.     Secondary: 1 a : of second rank, importance, or value b : of, relating to, or constituting the second strongest of the three or four degrees of stress recognized by most linguists <the fourth syllable of basketball team carries secondary stress c of a tense : expressive of past time 2 a : immediately derived from something original, primary, or basic (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

2.     (Europe) -Forest land where there has been a period of complete clearance by humans with or without a period of conversion to another land use. Forest cover has regenerated naturally or artificially through planting. http://www.biodiv.org/programmes/areas/forest/definitions.asp 

3.     (Indonesia) A secondary forest (or second-growth forest) is a forest or woodland area which has re-grown after a major disturbance such as fire, insect infestation, timber harvest or windthrow, until a long enough period has passed so that the effects of the disturbance are no longer evident. It is distinguished from an old-growth forest (old growth or primeval forest), which have not undergone such disruptions, as well as third-growth forests that result from severe disruptions in second growth forests. http://indonesiaforest.co.cc/secondary_forest.html

4.     (Indonesia) Secondary forest - Areas of mature natural forests extending over abandoned wild shifting cultivation zones (Landang liar) and ever lands formerly occupied by primary forests seriously damaged by fires. Source: D.C. Schwaar, Land capability appraisal Indonesia, AGL/INS/72/011 Working Paper No.5, FAO 1973 http://www.fao.org/ag/agl/agll/landuse/clsys/Indonesia.htm

5.     (Nicaragua) - Draft - Bosque Secundario: Area boscosa que se desarrolla una vez que la vegetación original ha sido eliminada por actividades humanas y/o fenómenos naturales y se encuentra en período de sucesión secundaria. www.nicarao.org.ni/ja (see Borrador de la ley, CAPITULO II DEFINICIONES) Harrie <harnic@ibw.com.ni> 

6.     (syn. pioneer forest) Forest which has developed by secondary succession on deforested land, such as land abandoned after shifting or settled agriculture, or after pasture. http://www.itto.or.jp/policy/pds4/page5.html 

7.     (Thailand) secondary forest : forest which have been logged or cleared for other purposes, and are regrowing but not fully regrown. These forests would be expected to have significantly lower biomass densities than undisturbed forests of the same type. The report of Thailand's National Greenhouse Gas Inventory, 1990. "Wilailak Pangtawaong" wpangtaw@deqp.go.th

8.     (UN FAO 2005, IPCC 2006) - Forest regenerated largely through natural processes after significant human or natural disturbance of the original forest vegetation. 1. The disturbance may have occurred at a single point in time or over an extended period; 2. The forest may display significant differences in structure and/or canopy species composition in relation to nearby primary forest on similar sites. http://unfccc.int/files/methods_and_science/lulucf/application/pdf/060830_killmann.pdf

9.     (World Bank 1999) Forest that is subject to a light cycle of shifting cultivation or to various intensities of logging but that still contains indigenous trees and shrubs http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/1999/09/17/000178830_98101901520841/Rendered/INDEX/multi0page.txt

10. (World Bank 2000) Forest subject to a light cycle of shifting cultivation or to various intensities of logging, but that still contains indigenous trees and shrubs. . http://www.holz.uni-goettingen.de/ek/woodsat/pdf/worldbankforestry.pdf

11. (WWF) Forest that is regenerating after a greater or lesser degree of disturbance, often by selective logging or agriculture; characterized by a lack of large trees and a large proportion of pioneerspecies. http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/wherewework/congo/WWFBinaryitem2900.pdf

12. (Regrowth) Young forests that have regenerated after a previous forest has been cleared (often in Latin America on abandoned former pastures). http://greenplanet.eolss.net/EolssLogn/mss/C12/E1-02/E1-02-15/E1-02-15-TXT.aspx#Glossary

13. A forest that has been logged and has recovered naturally or artificially. Not all secondary forests provide the same value to sustaining biological diversity, or goods and services, as did primary forest in the same location. http://www.biodiv.org/programmes/areas/forest/definitions.asp 

14. A new forest no more than 50 years or so claiming back disturbed areas, either by human intervention or natural causes, such as fires, floods. http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/5974/ 

15. A woodland occupying a site that has not been wooded continuously throughout history [in Britain since the last ice advance]. It may be the product of natural succession or of planting on formerly unwooded land. In the tropics, secondary woodland [forest] is pure or regrowing following clear-felling; it contains fewer species than primary forest (Allaby 1994). Helene M Cleveland CCMAIL hmclevel@aec.apgea.army.mil 

16. Following the first clearing (i.e., clearing of primary forests), the forest biomass may not recover fully to its original density during the fallow period, but instead reaches a reduced level, referred to as a secondary forest. http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/gl/guidelin/ch5ref3.pdf 

17. Forest containing fast-growing trees which flourish after disturbance. http://www.asiaforestnetwork.org/pub/pub29.pdf

18. Forest regenerating naturally after intense/drastic human and/or natural disturbance of the original forest vegetation, and involving a major change in canopy species composition from that of primary forests growing on similar site conditions in the area. Secondary forest can be said to have reverted to primary forest when canopy species composition approaches that of primary forest growing on similar site conditions in the area. http://www.biodiv.org/Forests/Glossary.html 

19. Forest that has been subject to a light cycle of shifting cultivation or to various intensities of logging, but which still contains indigenous trees and shrubs http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/forests/en/en4_6.htm 

20. Forest that has regenerated naturally after clearcutting, burning or other land clearing activities. From the Glossary of Terms pp200 – 204 of Indigenous Forestry – Sustainable Management (Ministry of Forestry and the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association Inc., January 1998). 

21. Forest that is subject to a light cycle of shifting cultivation or to various intensities of logging but that still contains indigenous trees and shrubs. http://www.wrm.org.uy/actors/WB/1991policy3.html and https://www.uni-hohenheim.de/i490a/teaching/M4901-430/ws_03_04/reading_materials/New_Neef_Schwarzmeier_Studie.pdf

22. Forest that is subject to various intensities of logging, or to a long cycle of shifting cultivation, but that still contains indigenous trees and shrubs. http://www.wrm.org.uy/actors/WB/1994policy.html 

23. Forest which, after destruction of the original vegetation (primary forest) as a result of human activities (e.g. land clearing, anthropogenic fire), regenerates naturally, and is thus composed mainly of natural vegetation in early successional stages. Though often associated specifically with the tropics, the term is not limited to these: boreal and temperate forests left to natural regeneration after clearcutting are also secondary forests. http://www.awi-bremerhaven.de/WBGU/wbgu_sn1998_voll_engl.html#Heading67 

24. Forests regenerating largely through natural processes after significant human or natural disturbance, and which differ from primary forests in forest composition and/or canopy structure. http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/deforest/deforest.html

25. Natural forest growth after some major interference (for example, logging, serious fire, or insect attack). http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=1985&page=672

26. Second growth -- (a second growth of trees covering an area where the original stand was destroyed by fire or cutting) http://www.notredame.ac.jp/cgi-bin/wn?forest 

27. Secondary forests are forests regenerating largely through natural processes after significant human and/or natural disturbance of the original forest vegetation at a single point in time or over an extended period, and displaying a major difference in forest structure and/or canopy species composition with respect to nearby primary forests on similar sites. Chokkalingam, Unna; Jong ,Wil De 2001. Secondary forest: a working definition and typology. International Forestry Review 3(1), 2001. http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/publications/pdf_files/secondaryforests.pdf and http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/publications/pdf_files/articles/AChokalingam0101.pdf

28. The ecosystems that regenerate from a substantial disturbance (flood, fire, land clearing or extensive and intensive logging) characterized by a scarcity of mature trees and an abundance of pioneer species and a dense understory of saplings and herbaceous plants. Although secondary forests frequently peak in terms of biomass accumulation well-within one felling cycle, the transition to primary forests usually requires several rotation lengths, depending upon the severity of the original disturbance. Irreversible transformation of the underlying soil and nutrient cycle brought about by chronic or intense use may render it impossible for the original, primary forest type to return. (further details will be addressed by FSC-approved national and regional standards of forest stewardship). PRINCIPLES AND CRITERIA FOR FOREST STEWARDSHIP. Revised March 1996, edited October 1996 http://www.metla.fi/archive/forest/1994/07/msg00035.html and http://www.fscus.org/html/about_fsc/who_we_are/glossary_of_terms.html#s 

29. The forest area that is rather cleared, includes some type of mixed deciduous forest, dry dipterocarp forest, and forest area that is abandoned due to deforestation. Normally, it has lower density of tree and also the size of the trees is considerable smaller. http://www.gisdevelopment.net/aars/acrs/1997/ts5/ts5007pf.htm

30. Those woodlands growing on previously non-wooded sites. most woodland, even ancient woodland , maybe secondary in nature as the site is likely to have been cleared at some time in the past, usually for agriculture. plantations and shelterbelts are also secondary woodlands. http://www.peakdistrict-nationalpark.info/place/glossary.html

31. Woodland formed on sites since 1600 AD which have formerly been under farmland, moorland or some other non woodland use. http://www.angelfire.com/on3/wildberks/Glossary.htm 

32. Woodland growing on a site that has either formerly been woodland or has been cleared at some time http://www.tnw.org.uk/Note17.html 

33. Woodland occupying a site that has not been wooded continuously since the last ice age. It may be a product of natural succession or of planting on formerly unwooded land http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/herts/reserves/glossary.html#Acid

34. Woodland that is growing on a site that was not previously wooded, for example, woodlands on previous industrial sites, agricultural land or demolished building sites. http://www.leeds.gov.uk/fol/edu_gloss.html

Semi-natural forests, woodlands

1.     (UK) Woodland with natural characteristics (predominantly native species of trees, ground plants and animals) where wood production is not a primary objective; this term is used rather than natural because the woodland may have originally been planted or have been managed for wood production in the past http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/ForestStats2006.nsf/byunique/glossary.html

2.     (UN FAO 2005) - Forest/ other wooded land of native species, established through planting, seeding or assisted natural regeneration. 1. Includes areas under intensive management where native species are used and deliberate efforts are made to increase /optimize the proportion of desirable species, thus leading to changes in the structure and composition of the forest. 2. Naturally regenerated trees from other species than those planted/seeded may be present. 3. May include areas with naturally regenerated trees of introduced species. 4. Includes areas under intensive management where deliberate efforts, such as thinning or fertilizing, are made to improve or optimise desirable functions of the forest. These efforts may lead to changes in the structure and composition of the forest. http://unfccc.int/files/methods_and_science/lulucf/application/pdf/060830_killmann.pdf

3.     A forest that has a different species composition from natural forests in the area http://fscus.org/html/standards_policies/us_regional_standards/archives/ozark_ouachita4.html 

4.     A stand which is composed predominantly of native trees and shrub species which have not been planted. Also, a forest which has developed gradually or accidentally, as its location or site quality was not suited for intensive exploitation or production-oriented management (e.g. in mountainous regions). This kind of reconstruction of the natural forest cover can be or has been achieved by using various silvicultural practices e.g., natural regeneration or selective thinning and in some cases also planting. [Source: Definitions used in the Helsinki Process - http://www.mmm.fi/english/minkonf/criteria.htm

5.     A stand which is composed predominately of native trees and shrub species which have not been established by artificial regeneration methods. Semi-natural forests do not include forest land that is "undisturbed" by man (South 1998). 

6.     Forest areas where some of the principal characteristics and key elements of native ecosystems, such as complexity, structure and diversity are present, given the physical parameters of climate, geology, hydrology and successional patterns. http://www.canadian-forests.com/fsc-glossary.html and additional FSC terms proposed in the December, 1996 FSC newsletter 

7.     Semi natural forests can be defined as neither a forest undisturbed by man nor a plantation as defined separately. They represent mainly managed forests modified by man through silviculture and assisted regeneration. http://www.biodiv.org/Forests/Glossary.html 

8.     Semi natural woodland may or may not be ancient but must contain a significant number of native species of tree and ground flora that would be expected on a given soil type. It will also have been subject to a low intervention management policy allowing natural conditions to develop. http://www.leeds.gov.uk/fol/edu_gloss.html

9.     Woodland, believed to be natural (not planted), mainly made up of native species . the woodland may have been modified by humans e.g. coppiced , but retains significant nature conservation interest. many semi-natural woodlands have only survived as they occur on land unsuitable for farming such as steep sided limestone dales, rocky boulder strewn slopes beneath gritstone edges or very wet areas. nearly all habitat sites in britain are generally regarded as semi-natural rather than truly natural. http://www.peakdistrict-nationalpark.info/place/glossary.html

Virgin Forest:

1.     Virgin - FRESH, UNSPOILED; specifically: not altered by human activity <a virgin forest (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary

2.     Usullied or untouched; fresh, in a pure or natural state - http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Andes/7292/Terms.html 

3.     (Bolivia) BOSQUE VIRGEN: Aquel que no ha sufrido, por extracción de sus componentes, alteraciones en su composición. Source: Luis Castello faopaf@caoba.entelnet.bo Adjunto sírvase encontrar la versión no oficial y premilinar del Glosario Forestal elaborado por el Proyecto de Apoyo a la Coordinación e Implementación del Plan de Acción Forestal para Bolivia 

4.     (Timber) -Timber from an original forest that has not been previously disturbed or influenced by human activity (26) http://rredc.nrel.gov/biomass/forest/tim_glossary/t_glossary.html#O 

5.     (UKRAIN-2008) “Virgin forest” (or “primary forest”) means the natural forest virtually uninfluenced by human activity means forest where there are no records of human direct activities on them; http://www.carpathianconvention.org/NR/rdonlyres/F1E5FF02-9457-4FD8-A272-721F097788A6/0/DraftProtocolonSustainableForestManagement.pdf

6.     A forest never logged. http://www.nrdc.org/reference/glossary/a.asp

7.     A forest that hasn't been affected by humans at all. http://www.nps.gov/olym/edgloss.htm 

8.     A forest where the hand of man has never yet set foot (Richard St. Barbe Baker, "My Life, My Trees"). 

9.     A mature or overmature forest essentially uninfluenced by human activity. http://gfagrow.org/glossary.htm 

10. A natural forest virtually uninfluenced by human activity. http://www.fs.fed.us/mrnf/faq/glossary.htm 

11. According to Korpel (1995) the virgin forest is a “forest whose composition, development, growth and other life processes are driven by the ecological parameters, primarily by the climate characteristics“ http://notulaebotanicae.ro/nbha/article/viewFile/3308/3147

12. An area of old-growth trees that never has been harvested by humans. http://www.dnr.state.md.us/Forests/Education/gloss.html and http://www.landhelp.info/FramifyGlossary.php

13. An eastern forest characterized as being unaltered by European settlers, a forest in its original state. USFS 1997. 

14. Any area in which there has been virtually no human disturbance (e.g. burning, cutting, grazing) of the original vegetation before European settlement [USA]. NOTE: In other countries, this term may defined as an area containing very little introduced species, with very little human disturbance. http://weber.u.washington.edu/~robh/S-7/EcolGlos.html 

15. Čermak (1910) defines virgin forest as “a forest which looks like it was never touched by a human“, http://notulaebotanicae.ro/nbha/article/viewFile/3308/3147 

16. Forest in its natural state, untouched by man. http://www.paperonline.org/cfm/default.cfm 

17. Forest that has never been disturbed by people, regardless of the age of its trees. http://omega.cc.umb.edu/~conne/joel/definition.htm 

18. Forest that have an absence of human effect - i.e. necessarily bases on a zero degree of human anthropogeny. (Sheingauz and Karakin 1999) 

19. Forests are those undisturbed by humans, and may not necessarily be old-growth. http://www.metla.fi/archive/forest/1995/10/msg00206.html 

20. Forests that have never been interfered with by man. http://www.orf.at/orf/tv.sales/documentaries/page_29a.htm 

21. Fragments or integral closed forest woodlands, having stable evolutionally formed mechanisms of self-supporting and self-reproduction, and existing on the occupied territory for more than 2-3 life periods of native forest former (draft Memorandum - Khabarovsk Conference, 1999). 

22. Large forests that have been uncut, unused and undisturbed by man. http://www.ohiokids.org/ohc/nature/glossary/glossaryt-x.html 

23. Leibundgut (1993) describes such forest as “a forest untouched by humans, with enormous trees, great volume of trunk, and hardly passable floor space with much dead wood“, http://notulaebotanicae.ro/nbha/article/viewFile/3308/3147  

24. Myths. Falls under the same heading as pristine forests. All forest have been impacted by humans in some way on this continent. Indians are humans and did do land management practices such as prescribed burning and harvesting of wood products (birch bark for birch bar canoes). "Ron Muir" muir@forestry.auburn.edu 

25. Natural woodland uninfluenced by human activity (E, 180 http://info.sjc.ox.ac.uk/forests/glossary.htm

26. Original natural forest unmodified by human intervention. From the Glossary of Terms pp200 – 204 of Indigenous Forestry – Sustainable Management (Ministry of Forestry and the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association Inc., January 1998). 

27.  Rubner (1960) considers virgin forest to be “forest vegetation which belongs to the climatic climax stage of vegetation in terms of development and growth“. http://notulaebotanicae.ro/nbha/article/viewFile/3308/3147    

28. Undisturbed natural forest, virtually uninfluenced by human activities, and usually containing old-growth trees if the site has been free of natural disturbances. http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/Extension/ssfor11.htm 

29. Untouched forest - An area that has never been disturbed by human intervention, and is showing natural development in structure and dynamics. The soil, climate, entire flora and fauna and the life processes have not been disturbed or changed by timber management, cattle grazing, or other direct or indirect anthropogenic influences. . [Source: Definitions used in the Helsinki Process - http://www.mmm.fi/english/minkonf/criteria.htm

30. Virgin - refers to a long period of development, untouched by humans, and lacking any visible evidence of disturbance. http://wvnvm.wvnet.edu/~rlanden/oldgrth.htm 

31. VIRGIN AREA: Any area in which there has been virtually no human disturbance (e.g., burning, cutting, grazing) of the natural vegetation.. http://www.fw.vt.edu/zedaker/3364/ecolterms.html 

32. Vrgin forest or primary forest  - A natural, ancient forest that has been around for thousands of years and that hasn’t been harmed by logging, mining, road-building, or development. More than three-fourths of the Earth’s primary forests have already been destroyed due to humankind’s activities. http://kids.ran.org/kidscorner/rainforests/wordup.html

See note at end of "original" forest. 

Working Forest

1.     (Canada-British Columbia 2003) “Working Forest” is defined as all Crown forest land in the province that is outside of protected areas and parks. http://archive.ilmb.gov.bc.ca/slrp/lrmp/policiesguidelinesandassessements/workingforest/docs/Working_Forests_Jan22_Rev_web.pdf

Other Definitions

Biologically Important Forest is a forest that has remained in a natural or close to natural state, which is considered a key area for the protection of forest-dependent species that need a certain amount and quality of suitable habitat to survive and maintain vital populations. The criteria for the selection of biologically important forests areas are defined on purely ecological bases. The general BIF criteria, used first in the Baltic Forest Mapping (Kurlavicius et al. 2004) were as follows: 1. Little or no signs of human influence; 2. Average age of stand more than X years; 3. Uneven age/canopy structure; presence of very old trees of previous tree generations; 4. Considerable amount / long continuum of dead wood of different types, rich flora of wood rotting fungi; 5. Large blocks of unfragmented forests; 6. Forests on steep slopes; 7. Endangered vegetation types; 8. Rare forest-dependent species present; 9. Rare broadleaved tree species present in the dominating canopy layer; 10. Forests after large-scale natural disturbance and natural regeneration; 11. Small water courses; surface springs, flooded areas; 12. Limited access areas. http://www.hcvnetwork.org/resources/assessments/BRFM%20report_English_low%20resolution.pdf

Closed Forest. Where trees cover a high proportion of the ground and where grass does not form a continuous layer on the forest floor (e.g. broadleaved forests, coniferous forests, bamboo forests). http://fiesta.bren.ucsb.edu/~idgec/publications/reports/forest.pdf

Gazetted forest is defined as depleted forest http://www.lfpdc.lsu.edu/publications/working_papers/wp29.pdf

Open Forest. A mixed forest/grassland with at least 10 percent tree cover and a continuous grass layer on the forest floor. http://fiesta.bren.ucsb.edu/~idgec/publications/reports/forest.pdf 

Rain Forest The term rain forest is used here broadly, to cover tropical evergreen forests at low elevations where the annual rainfall is greater than 2500 mm (true rain forests), and the much more extensive moist deciduous tropical forests, also at low altitudes, where the annual rainfall is 1000 – 2500 mm. http://www.bioversityinternational.org/fileadmin/bioversityDocs/About_Us/Hosted_Services/Rain_Forest_Management_for_Wood_Production.pdf

Savanna Forest - is more or less leafless during the dry season, rarely evergreen, is xerophilous in character, usually, often much less than 20 m high, park-like, very poor in underwood, lianes and epiphytes, rich in terrestrial herbs, especially grasses. Sohimper (1903) http://ia700508.us.archive.org/14/items/savannaafforesta034784mbp/savannaafforesta034784mbp.pdf 

Thorn Forest, - "Thorn forest, as regards foliage and average height, resembles navanna forest, but is more xerophilous, is very rich in underwood and in slender-stemmed lianes, poor in terrestrial herbs, especially in grasses, and usually has no epiphytes. Thorn plants are always plentiful." Used loosely and in the African context the term. Sohimper (1903) http://ia700508.us.archive.org/14/items/savannaafforesta034784mbp/savannaafforesta034784mbp.pdf  .

3. DISCUSSION

To be developed

4. REFERENCES

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5. ADDITIONAL REFERENCES
Most of the following were provided by Don Bertolette, Science Center, Grand Canyon National Park. My thanks to Don for sharing his information. 

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