Virgin Forests

A virgin, primeval or old-growth forest is a forest that has attained great age without significant disturbance.

Connected Sites

Site Rationale Link
Białowieża Forest including extensive old-growth forests (AB ev crit IX)
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a large primeval forest (wiki)
Central Sikhote-Alin
Gondwana Rainforests Barrington Tops National Park
Great Smoky Mountains The range is home to an estimated 187,000 acres (76,000 ha) of old growth forest (wiki)
Hubei Shennongjia
Ivindo National Park "Ivindo National Park (...) boasts biogeographically unique Caesalpinioideae old-growth forests of high conservation value". (Official description) The presence of old-growth terra firma forests is an important factor in describing the OUV of the NP. These very old forests, also called primary forests, represent a characteristic stage in the evolution of forests in Central Africa. They are very rare in Gabon and in West Central Africa in general. (Nomination file, p. 54-55)
Los Alerces National Park "LANP does contain extremely valuable old-growth forests which are difficult to access and perhaps the best protected old-growth forests in Argentina." (AB ev)
Olympic National Park "It contains one of the world’s largest stands of virgin temperate rainforest, and includes many of the largest coniferous tree species on earth." Criteria (vii) for Inscription
Pitons of Reunion Réserve biologique intégrale du Piton de la Fournaise
Primeval Beech Forests contains the largest remaining primeval beech forests in Europe (AB ev)
Redwood The parks protect 38,982 acres (157.75 km2) of old-growth forest (wiki)
Shirakami-Sanchi the largest remaining virgin beech forest in East Asia (AB ev)
Shiretoko The terrestrial ecosystem has various types of virgin vegetation (AB ev)
Tasmanian Wilderness
Vallée de Mai retains primeval palm forest in a near-natural state (AB ev)
Virgin Komi Forests one of the most extensive areas of virgin boreal forest remaining in Europe (AB ev)
Yakushima It contains a unique remnant of a warm-temperate primeval forest (AB ev crit IX)
Yosemite National Park

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A connection should:

  1. Not be "self evident"
  2. Link at least 3 different sites
  3. Not duplicate or merely subdivide the "Category" assignment already identified on this site.
  4. Add some knowledge or insight (whether significant or trivial!) about WHS for the users of this site
  5. Be explained, with reference to a source