An old growth forest gets its name from the age of its trees. The average age of a tree in an old growth forest is 150 years old! There are not many old growth forests in Vermont because of the deforestation that happened throughout our state’s history.

Old growth forests are important because they are the home of many unique plants and animals. These animals and plants need the protection of the larger, older trees to survive. Sometimes when old growth forests are cut down  the animals and plants that depend on them become extinct.