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Tress speed up their growth as they grow old, a new study suggests. 

According to the study, comparatively older trees have higher growth rate than younger trees. The findings of the study might find important implications for forest management. 

"Trees keep growing like crazy throughout their lifespan," said lead author Nate Stephenson, a forest ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), according to Science Recorder. 

Before reaching to such conclusions, scientists studied reviewed records of 403 tree species in six continents. They concluded that 97 percent of the 403 temperature and tropical species trees, of more than 80 years of age grew faster. 

Unlike animals, whose cell start malfunctioning and break down as they grow older, tree never suffer the ill effects of old age. Nothing but external factors like disease, infestation, fire or logging can only kill a tree.

"I think one of the reasons [the idea that older trees grow more slowly] had such staying power is because it's what human do," Stephenson commented according to Science Recorder. "We start growing slowly, then reach adolescence and have a growth spurt, then slow down again." Trees, on the other hand, reach that adolescent growth spurt and never stop," Stephenson said.

"We realize now the big, old trees are the ones pulling carbon most rapidly out of the atmosphere. This maybe puts an exclamation point on the importance of maintaining big, old trees," he added.

The study has been published in the Wednesday (Jan. 15) issue in the journal Nature.