1. Old trees (as determined by coring and counting annual growth rings, not size!)Return to Conservation page.2. Downed logs in all stages of decay
3. Standing snags (dead trees)
4. Uneven-aged structure of canopy trees (trees of many different trunk diameters, and uneven height of canopy trees)
5. Undisturbed soils
6. Single and multiple tree fall gaps
7. Large trees (at least some, usually but not always in very poor growing areas)
8. Absence of signs of human disturbance
9. Abundant fungi (in season)
10. Pit and mound formations from trees having fallen over and pulled up earth with their root balls. Tree itself may have rotted away.
11. Often, a very rich herbaceous layer of many different species of plants