Identifying and Managing Old-Growth Forest Communities in the National Forests and Grasslands of the Southern Region
| Authors: | Don C. Bragg, Margaret Woodbridge, Christine Martens |
| Year: | 2026 |
| Type: | General Technical Report |
| Station: | Southern Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.2737/SRS-GTR-284 |
| Source: | USDA Forest Service |
Abstract
Old-growth forests in the Southeast are diverse, highly valued, and complicated to both define and differentiate on the landscape. In this report, we review the history of forests in the region, including how old-growth has been defined, the characteristics of old-growth communities and old trees, and the values that old-growth communities provide. We also provide information for land managers to consider: threats that old-growth forests face, examples of management strategies for maintaining and restoring ecological functions, and tools for managing old-growth characteristics in mature forests. Finally, we summarize the unique characteristics of the various old-growth community types that occur in the Southern Region and even the Eastern Region. Some differences between this report and the similarly named 1997 old-growth guidance by Gaines et al. are that this report does not include any specific management direction at the plan or project level. Instead, we focus primarily on information to support identification of old-growth conditions such as land-use history, detailed descriptions of values, and clarified terminology related to old-growth conditions. We hope this report can serve as a tool to inform a more thorough understanding of the old-growth communities in the Southern Region and beyond.