Old-growth forests are biotic microrefugia

Temperate old-growth forests are vital climate refugia by providing stable microclimate conditions, supporting biodiversity, carbon storage, and resilience to drought and disturbance. Protecting and reconnecting these forests is key to reducing biodiversity loss and strengthening climate adaptation.

Managing younger stands to develop old-growth characteristics is crucial for conserving biodiversity, enhancing climate resilience, and maintaining long-term carbon storage under climate change.

See the full paper here: Hähn, G. J. A., Berger, V., Bruelheide, H., Chiarucci, A., Di Musciano, M., Gonzalez-García, V., Jiménez-Alfaro, B., Köhler, M., Kuemmerle, T., Nascimbene, J. and Sabatini, F. M. (2026), Protecting temperate old-growth forests as biotic microrefugia amid climate change. Conservation Science and Practice, e70323.