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FSH 2409.17 - SILVICULTURAL PRACTICES HANDBOOK
R-1 SUPPLEMENT 2409.17-94-1
EFFECTIVE January 26, 1994
CHAPTER 1 - HARVEST CUTTING
1.0 - Harvest Cutting Objectives. Harvest cutting is done to carry out the intent of the Forest
Plan. The objective of harvest cutting is threefold:
1. Develop forest conditions over time that benefit all allocated forest resources.
2. Utilize the timber resource.
3. Sustain ecological function.
These objectives are not exclusive. All must be considered when applying a harvest cutting
method. The silviculturist will determine a full range of harvest cutting alternatives for each
stand through the diagnosis step of the silviculture prescription process. Harvest cutting
alternatives must meet several criteria.
a. Ecological Criteria. Native forest plant communities are complex biological
associations that have evolved in response to climate, disturbance regimes, and site
conditions. Harvest cutting methods, patterns, and resulting structure, must be
compatible with the natural forces that are responsible for the constitution of forests
in the Northern Rockies. The method chosen must promote conditions that keep
tree damage and mortality caused by pest organisms, animals, and wind at
acceptable levels. The harvest method must also permit control of competing
vegetation to insure adequate reforestation of desirable species following final
harvest. An analysis completed at an appropriate geographic scale, will form the
basis of understanding ecological criteria.
b. Resource Criteria. The character of managed forest stands and landscapes are
a reflection of the desired condition for the area as determined through an
integrated NFMA analysis. Harvest cutting is a primary means of controlling the
establishment, composition, structure, and growth of stands to attain the desired
condition. The forest character afforded by multiple age classes can be provided
on a broad scale by either even- or uneven-aged stands and within even-aged stands
by multiple tree crown canopy levels. When a need for stand diversity is
compressed to smaller areas of land, uneven-aged structures may be necessary.
c. Management criteria. Harvest cutting methods should provide an efficient and
effective means of regulating timber yields. Regulation requires accurate
recordkeeping and timely scheduling of treatments. The method must be
compatible with logging systems that allow stands to be cultured and harvested in
the most cost effective manner consistent with adequate site protection and
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appropriate ecosystem composition and structure. Harvest cutting methods must
support viable timber sale offerings.
1.1 - Even-aged Stands. These stands generally have the preponderance of stocking in trees that
differ in age by no more than 20 percent of the rotation length. Clearcutting, seed tree, and
shelterwood cutting methods are used to produce even-aged stands.
1. Clearcutting. The National Forest Management Act has placed special considerations
on this harvest cutting method by requiring that it is used only when it is "determined to be the
optimum method---to meet the objectives and requirements of the relevant land management
plan."
The justification for clearcutting must relate primarily to resource objectives and requirements
and only secondarily to stand condition. Since clearcutting is a method of regenerating a forest
stand, it must first be determined that the existing stand cannot meet resource requirements and
must be replaced.
Clearcutting can be the best way to replace the existing stand for one or more of the following
reasons:
a. Ecological criteria. The condition of the stand may preclude the use of any
other harvest cutting method. Examples are stands that cannot provide enough
seed for natural regeneration, stands with insect infestations or disease infections
that are transmitted from overstory to understory trees, or stands of trees subject to
windthrow if partially cut.
b. Resource criteria. The desired condition during the regeneration period may
be best served by clearcutting. An example is a stand to be regenerated in a
landscape that is characterized by obvious natural openings or where open forage
areas are needed to provide wildlife habitat.
c. Management criteria. Harvest cutting methods must be operationally feasible
and must contribute to resource needs that are external to the stand itself. If
frequent multiple entries to remove residual trees will produce unacceptable
damage to young growth or excessive disturbance to wildlife populations, one entry
through the clearcut method may be the best choice for regenerating the stand.
Clearcutting must be shown as a viable treatment in a silvicultural prescription
prepared by a certified silviculturist. The determination that a clearcut is optimum
will be made by the Forest Officer responsible for management of the area and will
be recorded in the decision document for the project or area.
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2. Seed Tree Cutting
a. Ecological Criteria. The success of this cutting method in obtaining
regeneration depends on the combination of an adequate seed crop and acceptable
seed bed conditions. To influence species composition in the regenerated forest
stand, seed trees of a desirable species may provide natural regeneration to
supplement stocking derived from planting.
b. Resource criteria. The overall effect of a seed tree cut is similar to a clearcut
for wildlife and visual resources. Seed trees can be retained for wildlife needs.
c. Management criteria. Seed trees should be removed before the regenerated
stand has grown to a size that would be damaged by a removal cut. In some cases
it will not be economically feasible to remove the low volumes generally found in
seed trees. This should be considered when this cutting method is prescribed.
3. Shelterwood cutting.
a. Ecological criteria. The usual reason for using this cutting method is to
provide shelter to the regenerating stand. Enough trees must be present in an
acceptable species mixture and condition to provide shelter following the seed cut.
Planting may be required in some situations to meet species composition goals,
improved genetic quality, or when seed crops are not adequate.
b. Resource criteria. Prompt regeneration should be the objective of this cutting
method, although regulations allow regeneration to be deferred if the shelter is
retained. Seed and shelter trees may be retained for an extended period of time to
meet visual or wildlife needs. However, the timing of the removal cut will be
specified and the reasons for the shelter clearly identified.
c. Management criteria. Shelter should not be retained beyond the time it is
needed. Removal of seed and shelter trees must be possible without serious
damage to regeneration.
Clearcut, seed tree and shelterwood cutting can be applied to meet ecosystem or
resource requirements by varying size and shape of created openings and by
retaining trees singly or in groups for all or part of subsequent rotation period.
These methods are often modified to create 2 storied stands.
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1.2 - Uneven-Aged Stands. Uneven-aged stands should be considered in one of two categories:
1. Stands of multiple age classes that are not included with lands suitable for timber
production.
2. Stands with a defined distribution of age classes which contribute to a regulated,
sustained yield of timber.
When harvesting occurs in uneven-aged stands on lands unsuitable for timber production, a wide
variety of cutting methods may be used. Harvest cutting in these stands may be used to achieve
a desired result in special situations such as recreation areas or travel corridors.
When uneven-aged stands are to be maintained on lands suitable for timber production, close
control of harvest methods is required to assure the predictable and continued contribution of
these stands to the sustained yield set for the Forest. Because a regulated age class structure is
not often a natural condition, cutting must be based upon predefined stand conditions, including
desired diameter distribution, species composition, and maximum tree size. The frequency of
cutting must be determined in relation to stand goals.
Although stand goals for diameter distribution and maximum tree size are important in guiding
prescriptions, there is no practical way to regulate timber yields on a stand basis. By
establishing stand goals, the contribution of each stand to regulation of a larger forest area,
including both even- and uneven-aged stands, can be recognized.
Uneven-aged management should be initiated on an area, occupied by multiple stands, to achieve
and maintain a certain desired future condition.
1. Selection Cutting.
a. Ecological Criteria. For most forest ecosystems in Region 1, wildfire has
maintained a balance between energy assimilated through photosynthesis and
energy stored in live and dead plant material. Because of wildfires, the more
natural condition is stands of seral species dominated by trees of similar ages.
Indigenous insects and diseases have evolved naturally in such stands and can
become a serious problem when stand structures and species compositions are
changed by selection harvest to intermingled tree sizes and a higher proportion of
tolerant species.
b. Resource Criteria. The desired future condition of the area to be managed on
an uneven-aged basis should influence whether single tree or group selection
cutting is used. Group selection methods will often allow more species diversity.
Entries with either method are frequent and can result in cutting over an extensive
area.
c. Management criteria. Careful monitoring is necessary to determine forest
condition and the effect of selection cutting on forest regulation goals. Timber
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markets may determine timing of entries because of lower timber volumes
produced at each entry.
1.3 - Intermediate Cutting. Intermediate cuttings are partial cuttings made in a stand or in
certain age class groups within a stand between the time of establishment and the harvest of the
remaining mature trees.
1. Ecological Criteria. The stand or group resulting from a partial cut must be resistant
to wind and snow damage, as well as insects and disease.
2. Resource Criteria. Intermediate cutting must be conducted to achieve a specific result
in the residual stand. The genetic quality of leave trees as potential future seed bearers will be
considered. Following cutting, forest conditions must be maintained or improved for the
resource objectives in the area. Salvaging diseased or overmature trees is not sufficient
justification in itself for an intermediate cut.
3. Management Criteria. An intermediate cutting must not cause unacceptable damage
to the residual stand. The cost of the treatment should be justified on the basis of desired future
condition, as well as an economic return.