The importance of harmonizing the group of terms used to indicate ‘natural’ forests is reported in several studies. In a recent paper the term virgin forest is proposed as a unifying concept for forests which are not influenced by man in their development. In response to that paper my aim is to clarify the terms virgin and old-growth. My response focuses on two points: the term virgin forest is generally used to indicate forests that have not been influenced by people even in the distant past, therefore something different from what described by the authors; the definition drawn up for the proposed term substantially overlaps with the definition of old-growth forest resulting from a long history of studies on this theme. I think that the overlap between the two analyzed terms can ultimately only increase the existing confusion on this group of forest terms.

On the terms used to refer to 'natural' forests: a response to Veen et al. / Burrascano, Sabina. - In: BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION. - ISSN 1572-9710. - 19:(2010), pp. 3301-3305. [10.1007/s10531-010-9885-y]

On the terms used to refer to 'natural' forests: a response to Veen et al..

BURRASCANO, SABINA
2010

Abstract

The importance of harmonizing the group of terms used to indicate ‘natural’ forests is reported in several studies. In a recent paper the term virgin forest is proposed as a unifying concept for forests which are not influenced by man in their development. In response to that paper my aim is to clarify the terms virgin and old-growth. My response focuses on two points: the term virgin forest is generally used to indicate forests that have not been influenced by people even in the distant past, therefore something different from what described by the authors; the definition drawn up for the proposed term substantially overlaps with the definition of old-growth forest resulting from a long history of studies on this theme. I think that the overlap between the two analyzed terms can ultimately only increase the existing confusion on this group of forest terms.
2010
Virgin forests; Old-growth forests; Definitions; Criteria; Terminology
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
On the terms used to refer to 'natural' forests: a response to Veen et al. / Burrascano, Sabina. - In: BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION. - ISSN 1572-9710. - 19:(2010), pp. 3301-3305. [10.1007/s10531-010-9885-y]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/536851
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