Virgin Forests
A virgin, primeval or old-growth forest is a forest that has attained great age without significant disturbance.
Connected Sites
| Site | Rationale | Link |
| Białowieża Forest | including extensive old-growth forests (AB ev crit IX) | |
| Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a large primeval forest (wiki) | |
| Central Sikhote-Alin | ||
| Gondwana Rainforests | Barrington Tops National Park | |
| Great Smoky Mountains | The range is home to an estimated 187,000 acres (76,000 ha) of old growth forest (wiki) | |
| Hubei Shennongjia | ||
| Ivindo National Park | "Ivindo National Park (...) boasts biogeographically unique Caesalpinioideae old-growth forests of high conservation value". (Official description) The presence of old-growth terra firma forests is an important factor in describing the OUV of the NP. These very old forests, also called primary forests, represent a characteristic stage in the evolution of forests in Central Africa. They are very rare in Gabon and in West Central Africa in general. (Nomination file, p. 54-55) | |
| Los Alerces National Park | "LANP does contain extremely valuable old-growth forests which are difficult to access and perhaps the best protected old-growth forests in Argentina." (AB ev) | |
| Olympic National Park | "It contains one of the world’s largest stands of virgin temperate rainforest, and includes many of the largest coniferous tree species on earth." Criteria (vii) for Inscription | |
| Pitons of Reunion | Réserve biologique intégrale du Piton de la Fournaise | |
| Primeval Beech Forests | contains the largest remaining primeval beech forests in Europe (AB ev) | |
| Redwood | The parks protect 38,982 acres (157.75 km2) of old-growth forest (wiki) | |
| Shirakami-Sanchi | the largest remaining virgin beech forest in East Asia (AB ev) | |
| Shiretoko | The terrestrial ecosystem has various types of virgin vegetation (AB ev) | |
| Tasmanian Wilderness | ||
| Vallée de Mai | retains primeval palm forest in a near-natural state (AB ev) | |
| Virgin Komi Forests | one of the most extensive areas of virgin boreal forest remaining in Europe (AB ev) | |
| Yakushima | It contains a unique remnant of a warm-temperate primeval forest (AB ev crit IX) | |
| Yosemite National Park |
Suggestions?
Do you know of another WHS we could connect to Virgin Forests?
A connection should:
- Not be "self evident"
- Link at least 3 different sites
- Not duplicate or merely subdivide the "Category" assignment already identified on this site.
- Add some knowledge or insight (whether significant or trivial!) about WHS for the users of this site
- Be explained, with reference to a source