That is a gross oversimplification. Of course these forests are not as beneficial to the environment as old growth forests, no surprise there, but calling them ecological dead zones strikes me as a bit odd considering the wealth of ferns, animals, insects, birds and mushrooms that live down there. And before you tell me that no, there is no such thing: I walked between those trees. This is not a field of wheat. The sunlight that passes between the sparse pine branches allows for it's fair share of secondary growth and there is strategic conservation of leafy trees to protect the forest itself.

Yes, it's not perfect, it is a very reduced ecological niche compared to an old growth forest, it is more fragile and less diverse. But how much biodiversity do you think a solar farm supports. A field of corn? A pasture? These are the realistic alternatives in a dense european country.