The amount of old growth on federal lands increases every year. Wildfire is by far the major threat contributing 87% (102,500 acres) of what was lost in the first ten years of the Northwest Forest Plan. During that same timeframe, taking into account all losses, the amount of old growth increased by 1.5 million acres, or about 2% per year. The amount lost to timber harvest over the decade was only 0.2% (16,900 acres).
Pacific Northwest Research Station
Northwest Forest Plan–The first 10 years (1994-2003): status and trend of late-successional and old-growth forest.