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Coarse Woody Debris - Coarse Woody Debris - wood pieces more than ten centimeters in diameter and more than one meter in length. (See some examples here) This material reduces erosion and affects soil development, stores nutrients, essential elements and water, provides a source of energy and nutrient flow, serves as seedbeds, and provides habitat for decomposers and heterotrophs (Harmon and Hua, 1991). Coarse Woody Debris - any symplastless standing or fallen tree stem at least 4 inches in diameter at breast height (d.b.h.) on snags and at the large end on fallen trees. (Maser, Tarrant, Trappe and Franklin, 1988). More articles on the ecological stages of trees.