Guidance Forest and woodland: the maturing of forest
Index section forest and woodland: the maturing of forest
Introduction
In the last thirty years the average age of Dutch forests has increased. There are therefore more birds of older forest than was the case in 1950. And birds of prey are also more numerous than in 1950. The older forests have closed canopies and are darker; there are few gaps created by fallen trees because most forests are still too young. Canopy closure is disadvantageous for butterflies, because these require clearings, wide forest paths and wide forest margins.
