Trees that are dead but still standing are called snags. Even though snags are dead, they are still are important parts of the forest. Snags provide benefits to the environment, especially to the animals that live nearby. Because the population of Black-backed woodpeckers had fallen in the Sierra Nevada, scientists wanted to study what types of postfire habitats this woodpecker liked best. Topics: Active Forest Management, Fire, Wildlife, Black-backed Woodpecker, Fire Effects, Fire Severity, Foraging, Forest Restoration.