Dead wood, rich in biodiversity, has long been eliminated from the forest out of fear and ignorance of its role in the forest ecosystem. By the commonly used term “dead wood” we mean the notion of “decaying wood”. This term does not apply to completely dead trees; it refers to all forms of decaying wood, existing as part of a living or dead tree standing or on the ground.

Maintaining a significant amount of dead wood in the forest, in all its forms and stages of decomposition, plays a key role in the economical production of sustainable and durable wood, in balance with a functional forest ecosystem.