Forest science becomes forest practice: Reviewing practical science to help forest owners sustainably manage their woodlands

摘要

Nyland, R. D. 2006. Diameter-limit cutting and silviculture in northern hardwoods. Pages 16-23 in Proceedings of the Conference on Diameter-Limit Cutting in Northeastern Forests. USD A Forest Service Northeastern Research Station. General Technical Report NE-342. Available on-line at http:/rs. fs.fed.us/pubs/8045 or via an internet search for the key words "diameter limit cutting hardwoods". The practice of exploitive and unsustainable timber harvesting, variously known as high-grading, diameter-limit cutting, and selective cutting continues in eastern hardwood forests. Diameter-limit cutting, the cutting of trees larger than a threshold size, persists for a number of reasons. Some landowners and forest practitioners misjudge the difference in tree diameter as an indicator for age, and incorrectly cut the big trees to let smaller trees thrive. Even with increased sunlight, the smaller trees in a forest grow more slowly than larger trees. In other cases diameter-limit proponents assert the financial gain is better than with silvicultural practices. Finally, diameter-limit cutting is often not recognized for its negative impacts and is utilized as the easiest, and presumed harmless, path to forest management.