Explore the fascinating world of old-growth forests in this hour-long lecture that delves into their common features, development models, and global empirical evidence. Learn about big trees, formal definitions, stand development, and key messages regarding the origins of these ancient ecosystems. Discover the importance of tree cores, rings, and growth patterns in understanding multicohort stands, with a specific example from the Central Highlands. Examine the role of forest management, including retention-based harvesting and silvicultural systems trials, and their impact on biomass and large tree growth. Gain insights into thinning practices and participate in a Q&A session to further enhance your knowledge of these vital ecosystems.