Publication - 8 April, 2002
The world's original forests are in an alarming situation. Of the original forest cover half is gone and only 20 percent remain as large tracts of ancient forest i.e. intact and fully functioning areas of primary/ natural/ old growth forest ecosystems dominantly shaped by natural events and with comparably small human impacts. There is an urgent need to protect the ecological integrity of the remaining ancient forests for this and future generations.