This treatment is performed in a mature stand with removal of thirty to fifty percent (30-50%) of the total volume allowing the best quality trees to remain and expand their crown areas and stem diameter. This operation is usually undertaken in stands in which the crop trees are intended for future saw-logs. Large trees such as white pine, hemlock etc., which are present in the stand, should be left to provide nesting sites for predatory birds and other wildlife and for a future seed source.

The establishment of seedlings in an area in which natural regeneration is inadequate.

Pre Commercial Thinning – Plantations and Natural Stands (***)

The spacing of an immature softwood, hardwood and mixed stands to encourage increased growth rates in the best quality trees. Spruce is usually favored over fir as crop trees, and some wildlife benefit can be derived from leaving scattered hardwoods throughout the treated area. The slash and debris remaining from such an operation provides valuable cover and browse for a number of wildlife species.

Selection Managed (***)

This treatment consists of the harvesting of the poorest quality trees in an uneven aged stand before mortality renders them unmarketable. The stand should be in a better overall condition when this treatment is completed and allows for natural regeneration to become established where individual or groups of trees have been harvested. Such an operation allows the stand to remain uneven aged and provides a sustainable yield of wood volume every few years.

This treatment consists of the harvesting of all, or nearly all, trees in an area. Usually undertaken in a stand in which most of the trees are mature or over-mature, or in areas of poor quality or low volume. Clear-cuts may be modified in the form of strip or patch cuts to allow the stand to be removed over a period of time. Irregular shaped clear-cuts allow an increased forest edge for wildlife and provide hardwood browsing for a number of species. All Provincial guidelines and regulations are followed in regards to wildlife corridors and watercourse protection.

The removal of a mature overstorey in increments to allow establishment & development of a desired species or combination of species. This operation is most beneficial in stands with longer lived species such as red spruce, hemlock, white pine, sugar maple & yellow birch. The amount of overstory to be removed is dependent upon the growth stage of the understory. Options may include a two or three stage removal over a ten to fifteen year period. The first harvest usually removes about thirty per cent (30%) of the volume of the stand while leaving the best seed & shade trees, which allows increased light and temperature levels at the forest floor, factors needed to encourage seedling establishment and growth. The final harvest is undertaken to remove all the overstory volume & allow free growth of the new crop.

A thinning technique used to promote the growth of selected trees through the removal of less desirable trees. Crop tree release increases the health and present value of a stand, and also enhances the stand’s future value, by concentrating growth on the most desirable trees.

Treatment to increase the quality & value of selected trees by removing the lower limbs.

The cutting of all trees except for a small number of widely dispersed windfirm trees retained for seed production and to produce a new age class in fully exposed environments.