num_pages: 200
description: Maloof eloquently urges us to cherish the wildness of what little old-growth woodlands we have left. . . . Not only are they home to the richest diversity of creatures but they work hard for humans too.  New York Times Book Review An old-growth forest is one that has formed naturally over a long period of time with little or no disturbance from humankind. They are increasingly rare and largely misunderstood. In Natures Temples  Joan Maloof the director of the Old-Growth Forest Network makes a heartfelt and passionate case for their importance. This evocative and accessible narrative defines old-growth and provides a brief history of forests. It offers a rare view into how the life-forms in an ancient undisturbed forestincluding not only its majestic trees but also its insects plant life fungi and mammalsdiffer from the life-forms in a forest manipulated by humans. What emerges is a portrait of a beautiful intricate and fragile ecosystem that now exists only in scattered fragments. Black-and-white illustrations by Andrew Joslin help clarify scientific concepts and capture the beauty of ancient trees. 
language: English
title: Nature's Temples: The Complex World of Old-Growth Forests
publisher: Timber Press