SILVICULTURAL SYSTEMS
What is a Silvicultural system?
 A silvicultural system is the process of
tending, harvesting and regenerating a
forest.
 Different objectives in forest management
(e.g. conservation in an ancient semi-natural
woodland vs. production of timber from a
conifer plantation) are likely to lead to the
adoption of different silvicultural systems.
Forestry Commission. www.forestry.gov.uk/forestresearch
 http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/website/fo
restresearch.nsf/ByUnique/INFD-6V4BGP
SYSTEMS
 Generally divide into 2 main groups
 HIGH FOREST SYSTEMS
 COPPPICE SYSTEMS
http://tyfcoed.bangor.ac.uk/
CLASSIFYING SYSTEMS
• There are many different types
of silvicultural systems
• A broad classification can be
made based on the pattern of
regeneration and how the tree
canopy is removed.
•
Forestry Commission. www.forestry.gov.uk/forestresearch
 Generally forests managed using clear felling
and shelterwood systems tend to be evenaged (only possess one or two canopy strata)
and those managed using selection systems
are uneven-aged (have three or more canopy
strata).
Silvicultural systems
Clearfelling
Uniform shelterwood system
Complete removal of trees and artificial
regeneration.
Uniform opening of the canopy for
regeneration purposes
Strip shelterwood
Opening up of crop in narrow coupes
Opening up of groups of advance
regeneration – comparitively short regen
period
‘Rolling system’
COPPICE SYSTEMS
 Coppice
 Coppice with standards
HIGH FOREST SYSTEMS
 CLEAR CUT SYSTEMS - old crop felled in
single felling Usually artificial regeneration
 Crop felled in 2 or more regeneration fellings
SHELTERWOOD SYSTEMS
SELECTION SYSTEMS
CLEAR CUT
Shelterwood systems
Uniform shelterwood system
Shelterwood systems
 Uniform
 Group
 Irregular
 Strip
Selection systems
 Complex
 Single tree selection
 Adaptations on this
 Bradford Hutt system
A Classification of Silvicultural
systems
•
•
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BUT you can also
get
combinations of
these or
variations on
them
www.forestry.go
v.uk/.../fruneven
agedsilviculture
0001.../fruneven
agedsilviculture
0001.pdf