When the snag falls over, the log becomes a haven for insects and many other animals. The downed log slowly decomposes and returns nutrients to the soil. However, old-growth forests are not defined solely by trees. Complex symbiotic relationships develop over centuries between all of the organisms present in the old-growth ecosystem. When ancient forests are cut, it takes many years to rebuild all of the severed connections.
Ancient forests are a magnificent and complex strand in the web of life.