Structural pattern of a near-natural beech forest (Fagus sylvatica) (Serrahn, North-east Germany)

Even though individual structural features may be similar at present to those of virgin beech forests, this is a temporary phenomenon. The Serrahn beech forests are still in the phase of recovery from the forest devastation that took place during the 14th and 15th centuries. It takes several beech generations, i.e. many hundred years, for a highly differentiated age structure on a small spatial scale to develop, such as is characteristic for virgin beech forests.