Reviews over 400 articles of ecological literature and other publicatiosn regardig the amount and distribution of coarse woody debris in forests and the flora and fauna associated with it. Emphasis is placed on temperate and boreal forests with special focus on flora and fauna under Fennoscandian conditions. Topics reviewed include: logs, large branches, stumps, snags, vertebrates, invertebrates, bryophytes, lichens, fungi, turnover, decay, riprarian zones and fire.