In Western Australia all unlogged forests are old growth. Every part of the old growth forest ecosystem has an important role to play in keeping the forest healthy. The living and non-living parts of the ecosystem interact with each other so if one part is disturbed then the entire ecosystem will feel the effect. Even scientists don't always know what the effects of disturbance will be. Ecological services of old growth forest Old growth forest provides many important services which ensure the ongoing health and stability of the environment.
Humans are part of the environment and our well-being depends on having a healthy environment.
Biodiversity Old growth forests have a high level of biodiversity , which means there are lots of different species of plants and animals found there. Scientists are still discovering previously unknown species. For example, in a study of 20 marri trees, an average of 443 species of insect were discovered living on each tree. Many of these had never been recorded by scientists before. Old growth forests are made up of trees of many different ages, sizes and shapes, and their understorey .