Are the remnants of old-growth mountain forests always relevant to inspire close-to-nature forest management and efficient biodiversity conservation?

Primary and old-growth forests have been identified as a high priority for biodiversity conservation identifying benchmarks biodiversity-friendly forestry. However, they remain rare not randomly distributed across Europe, concentrated mainly in the boreal zone or mountainous areas such Pyrenees where both ancient (i.e. with degree of continuity) mature attributes) (hereafter AMFs) accurately delimited on French side border. Can these AMF remnants provide suitable insure conservation? This study aimed to (i) identify factors that explain current location AMFs; (ii) assess potential AMFs reference ecosystems; (iii) discuss relevance network conservation. We used set 10,344 1 ha-plots, described by 10 metrics abiotic conditions socio-economic context, compare are but mature, recent forests. significantly differed from other most variables tested, effect sizes were rather weak, exceptions occurrence late frost, exposition ownership type. Our provides important insights beyond case northern slope Pyrenees. Indeed, our results clearly show broad-scale patterns require complementary investigations at regional scale better understand influence past-human activity spatial distribution ecosystems. also illustrate added value including geological features plant communities analysis ecological representativeness networks dedicated