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The EU biodiversity strategy and EU forest strategy for 2030 require strict protection of remaining primary and old-growth forests, yet they cover only about 3% of EU forest area and remain highly threatened. The European Commission\u2019s guidelines define old-growth forests using three main indicators\u2014native tree species, deadwood, and large\/old trees\u2014supported by four complementary indicators. Implementing these indicators for boreal and hemiboreal old-growth forests in Europe currently lack science-based operational criteria that meet EU legal standards. We provide recommendations for implementing European Commission\u2019s indicators with science-based criteria to minimize misclassification and ensure cost-effective conservation. Key criteria include native species dominance,\u2009\u2265\u20095% deadwood of the total wood volume, and\u2009\u2265\u200920 large\/old trees per hectare. Additional guidance is offered for regeneration patterns, structural complexity, microhabitats, and indicator species, emphasizing that all indicators should be applied collectively.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1007\/s13280-026-02457-0","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,19]],"date-time":"2026-08-19T17:56:04Z","timestamp":1787162164000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["From guidelines to practice: Operational criteria for identifying old-growth forests in northern Europe"],"prefix":"10.1007","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8897-3314","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mikko","family":"M\u00f6nkk\u00f6nen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0234-9292","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gediminas","family":"Brazaitis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8385-2553","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Guntis","family":"Br\u016bmelis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7307-1940","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bengt-Gunnar","family":"Jonsson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7283-8716","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Asko","family":"L\u00f5hmus","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Raisa","family":"M\u00e4kip\u00e4\u00e4","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4480-509X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kimmo","family":"Syrj\u00e4nen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"2457_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"86","DOI":"10.1038\/s41893-024-01450-3","volume":"8","author":"N Acil","year":"2025","unstructured":"Acil, N., J.P. 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