About 4.9 million hectares of EU forests are 'primary' or 'old-growth', according to a new JRC report. These are forests that follow natural dynamics, exist in their original condition and are largely untouched by human interference.

They are the natural heritage of Europe, as the ancient temples are for our culture. Although 4.9 million hectares may seem a lot, these forest types are in fact rare, small and fragmented, only making up 3% of the EU’s total forested area and 1.2 % of the EU land. Protecting them is vital for preserving biodiversity and mitigating climate change.

This report contributes to the EU commitment made in the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030 to define, map, monitor and strictly protect all the EU’s remaining primary and old-growth forests. It is a compilation of existing mapping exercises by various researchers and organisations, and statistical information reported by the Member States.