Land Mature -

: Abundance of large, older trees that have moved past the initial "self-thinning" young stage.

: More open and complex canopy structures compared to dense young forests. land mature

: Account for roughly 80 million acres (45% of total federal forest land). : Abundance of large, older trees that have

: Significant accumulation of aboveground biomass and standing dead wood (snags). Strategic Importance & Threats : Abundance of large

The USDA Forest Service and BLM manage approximately of forest land in the United States.

Mature forests are a developmental stage that precedes old-growth. While definitions vary by forest type, general indicators include:

Mature lands are vital for because older trees store vast amounts of carbon.