younggrowth

Younggrowth, also written young growth or young-growth, is a term used primarily in forestry and ecology to describe forest stands dominated by relatively young trees that have regenerated after disturbance.

In forestry, young-growth refers to stands that have established following events such as logging, fire, windthrow, or disease outbreaks. These stands are typically younger than surrounding mature or old-growth stands and may exhibit high stem density, rapid vertical growth, and a simpler, single-layer canopy. Species composition varies by region but often centers on fast-growing, early-successional species.

Ecological and economic aspects: Young-growth forests provide habitat for certain wildlife and can supply timber over time. They are important for maintaining a continuous supply of forest products while old-growth and late-successional habitats recover elsewhere. Structural complexity increases with age as trees recruit understory and develop multiple canopy layers, snags, and larger trees, though such features take decades to emerge.

Management: In many jurisdictions, managing for both young-growth and late-successional habitats is a policy objective. Practices include retention of scattered legacy trees, preservation of downed woody debris, and careful planning to balance harvest with habitat needs.

Other uses: The term is also used informally in horticulture and gardening to describe new shoots or flushes of growth on plants, though in that context "young growth" is not a formal forest category.

See also: old-growth forest, second-growth forest, forest succession.