Extended rotation forest

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An extended rotation forest is a forest stand for which the harvest age is increased beyond the optimum economic harvest age to provide larger trees, wildlife habitat, and other non-timber values. [1] [2]

Advantages of extended rotation forestry included enhanced carbon storage, better wood quality and the ability to create habitat for old growth dependent species. The main disadvantages of extended rotations is the lower present value of the stand and timber supply issues. These impacts can be mitigated by the application of commercial thinning. In the Pacific Northwest of the United States, commercially thinned stands have yet to reach cumulation age in spite of reaching ages of over 100 years on good to moderate sites. In managed for values other than timber, extended rotations are being considered. In Oregon, some environmental groups are calling for rotations as long as 250 years. The argument centres on the assertion that short-rotation management on either biological or financial rotations leads to significant losses of wood production potential as well as external costs to society.

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Coppicing Method of tree management

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Thinning

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Harvester (forestry) Type of forestry vehicle employed in logging operations

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Silviculture is the practice of controlling the growth, composition/structure, and quality of forests to meet values and needs, specifically timber production.

Old-growth forest Forest that has attained great age without significant disturbance

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This article is the index of forestry topics.

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The following outline is provided as an overview of and guide to forestry:

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Forest product Material derived from forestry

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Deforestation in British Columbia

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References

  1. "Subsection Forest Planning Glossary". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  2. Roberge, Jean-Michel; et al. (2016). "Socio-ecological implications of modifying rotation lengths in forestry". Ambio. 45, Suppl. 2: S109–S123. doi:10.1007/s13280-015-0747-4. PMC   4705071 . PMID   26744047.