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So you think you may have stumbled upon an ancient forest?

  1. Invite arborists and scientists to visit the site. Share your initial measurements and species descriptions.
  2. Take core samples of select trees (and pies from fallen trees--don't remove any trees for study) and perform an inventory of trees!
  3. Once the scientists have verified your findings, contact the media--they love tree stories. Hold a press conference at the forest.
  4. Encourage collaboration between local concerned groups and citizens to generate publicity and awareness of forest. Offer to lead walks through the forest to talk about the uniqueness and value of the forest.
  5. Get the state forestry officials involved.
  6. Remain positive with all opposition, i.e. developers. Confrontation won't get you far. Be respectful of their opinions. Convince them of the value of preserving this rare forest and how preserving it would benefit them.

limbs for 40 - 80 feet, indicating the tree used its energy to grow upward in attempts to outgrow the shadows of older trees and reach the forest canopy in search of sunlight.

  1. Tops of trees can become flattened with "stag-headed" appearance of thick, contorted and gnarled branches.
  2. Trunks sometimes develop spiral twist.
  3. "Pit and mound" shape of forest floor. Large trees have fallen roots, ripped out, leaving shallow pit while root mass and trunk decay, leaving a mound.
  4. Rich growth of moss and mushrooms. Good sign if moss reaches 6-10 feet (or more) on trunks. Centuries of undisturbed conditions allow old-growth forests to develop thick organic soils rich in dense moss beds, lichens, ferns and liverworts.
  5. A healthy mix of old-, middle- and young trees.

Identifying characteristics taken from Bruce Kershner's Guide to the Ancient Forests of Zoar Valley Canyon.

Physical exterior characteristics can help arborists make an initial determination if trees are 'old-growth.'

  1. Large tree greater than three feet DBH (doesn't apply to fast-growing trees like the tulip poplar, cottonwood or willow). But size can be misleading, especially for slower-growing trees--hemlock, cedar and yellow birch. A cored ten-inch diameter Eastern Hemlock had 360 rings.
  2. Old-growth bark-- balding, deep furrowing, shaggy bark, peeling plates and giant knots.
  3. "Buttressed roots" - roots tend to swell and become more apparent above and around the base of the tree (see photo).
  4. Tall trunks that are clear of branches and