Decaying trees play an important role in preserving forest biodiversity.
Thousands of species live in Finnish forests that are dependent on deadwood in some way. Deadwood is needed by fungal species that decay wood, as well as by lichens and mosses that live on the surfaces of trees. Deadwood offers a favorable habitat for many insects, and birds, in turn, get nourishment from the insects that thrive in the decaying wood. Deadwood does not spread diseases nor does it spread insect infestations; in fact, deadwood positively affects the health of the forest. For this reason, we leave deadwood in the forests during logging operations.