Table 2. A broad classification of types of old-growth, frequent-fire forests considered in this article Time period Type   Description Past 1. Presettlement forests   Considered to have ended with the year of the last surface fire Present 2. Old growth   Unharvested, dominated by old trees, but typically affected by fire exclusion and livestock Present 3. Developing old growth   Forests managed to attain some or many old-growth characteristics in the future Future 4. Old growth   Type 2 still dominated by old trees that may have been managed to varying degrees Future 5. Emergent old growth   Type 3 that has attained some or many old-growth characteristics