This book is a look at what we've learned in actually studying old-growth rather than cutting it down. The old paradigm of looking at forests viewed old-growth as "decadent," "unthrifty," and badly in need of management (i.e. clear-cutting and replanting in monoculture). So it's good that a group of researchers came together in the '70s to study a large tract of unlogged woods in the Oregon Cascades, and began to turn many of the assumptions about old-growth on their head. (Of course, it helps that there was a general cultural sea change toward valuing wilderness and natural systems during this time period.)

Luoma is a journalist and so takes us into various forests, talks with the experts, and gives a good layman's perspective of the science and politics surrounding forestry and public land management. In this book, one learns about the life and structure of old growth forests (particularly Pacific Northwest forests), e.g. the critical roles of fungi, soil organisms, small rodents, birds, disturbance regimes--basically the web of interconnections that makes a forest (or any ecosystem) "work." ( )

Using a Willamette National Forest study area as a backdrop, this book provides a clear, useful, entertaining and concise overview of important ecology topics. Microrhizomal relationships, nitrogen fixation, forest fragmentation, species diversity, forest economics, the Spotted Owl controversy, salmon fisheries, pressure on academics to generate woefully short-term studies, and US Forest Service politics are some of the fascinating topics.

Very highly recommended. ( )

Fascinating study of ancient forests and why we need them. ( )