How old is the boreal forest?
Ages of trees in the boreal zone should be put into perspective. The longest living tree that scientists are aware of is the Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva D.K. Bailey) growing in the southwestern United States which can grow to be more than 4800 years old. In Canada, some of our longest living trees are eastern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.) in the east and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii) in the west, both of which can grow to be more than 1000 years old. By comparison, the trees in the boreal zone are relatively young. Natural disturbances such as fire, insects, windthrow, ice storms, and disease all have a role in shaping the boreal forest, resulting in a patchwork of stands of trees, large and small, old and young, each supporting different birds and wildlife. Some of these stands are considered “old-growth”, a term that is more scientifically recognized than the term “ancient”. Old-growth forests are those in a later stage of fo
