It might also be the first mention of how dangerous the lower forest levels of Kashyyk are. The newspaper strip had a story around the same time where Han and Chewie ride giant centipedes down there to foil some Imperials. The flora and fauna get more lethal the deeper (and darker) you go! It fascinated and creeped me out as a kid.
I was bummed we didn't get to see much of that forest in Episode III. ;)