mature forest
Ancient established timberland
A mature forest is woodland where trees have reached full growth but haven't yet entered old-growth stages of decay and regeneration.
The term appears in forestry and ecology to distinguish between young stands, harvestable timber, and ancient forests with complex ecosystems: The mature forest provided ideal habitat for owls.
Maturity varies by species—a century for some hardwoods, less for pines.
- old-growthLong-undisturbed forest
- ancient treesVery old woody plants
- canopyOverhead protective covering
- undergrowthLow forest vegetation
- ancientVery old indeed
towering · shade · moss · ferns · decay · fallen · logs · nurse log · biodiversity · climax · woodland · timber · dense · cathedral · quiet · dappled · dappled light · lichen
- forestrysilviculture, timber, ranger station, timber harvesting, logging roads
- successionheir apparent, heir presumptive, line of succession, primogeniture, successor
mature forestplantation
Large-scale farming operation
tree plantation · tree farm · pine plantation · managed forest
mature, forest, maturely, immature, immaturely, maturity, immaturity, maturate, maturation