Harvesting Methods
Pictures of methods are below notes
Clear cutting – It is the removal of all the trees in a forest.
 It is the most cost effective
 It has greatest impact on the area compared to other methods
 It is similar to a natural disturbance such as a fire
 Logging roads can cause soil erosion
 Used to create even aged forest.
 Used to re-grow shade intolerants species such as pine, ash,
cherry, and poplar
Seed tree logging – It is clear cutting but a few mature seed
producing trees are left to regenerate the forest.
Selection cutting – This method remove some of the mature tree
for lumber and also poorly grown trees to maintain the forest.
 Not very cost effective
 Has a little visual impact to the forest
 Creates and un-even aged forest
 Used to grow shade tolerant species such as beech, maple,
hemlock.
Diameter limit cutting – This method removes only the biggest
and best trees leaving poorer growing (genetically inferior tree) to
dominate the forest.
 The sole purpose is to make money
 Results in a unhealthy forest
 Sometimes masked as selection cutting
 BAD FORESTRY
Clear cutting
Seed tree logging
Selection cutting
Diameter limit cutting