| Selection cutting is a term used to
refer to the cutting of trees selected individually or in small
groups while protecting those that are free of deformities and
disease. Its purpose is to ensure that the forest contains trees
of all ages. It also improves the health of the stand and releases
space for young trees to grow. |
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The breaches left by felling are clearly
visible in this selection cut.
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Where is selection cutting carried out?
Selection cutting is appropriate for forests composed
of trees of different sizes and ages. This type of forest is known
as an “uneven-aged” forest.
The method can be used only in stands that contain
trees able to grow in shade (the so-called “tolerant”
species) and is therefore suited to forests made up of hardwood
or mixed species that are dominated by tolerant hardwoods. This
type of forest would include species such as the maple, cherry,
birch, oak, linden, ash or beech.
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In selection cutting, no more than one
tree in every three is cut, leaving room for healthier trees
of different ages. |
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Trees are selected for cutting in order to release those that
are more promising or smaller. They are then marked, in a
process known as “timber marking”. Trees that
are diseased or deformed but still have parts that could be
used by the mills are selected first, followed by those hindering
the growth of young crop trees, and lastly by old but healthy
trees that have reached their maximum size. No more than one-third
of the trees in a given sector can be cut.
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| Forestry specialists then visit the forest roughly
once every twenty years to carry out further selection cuts. |
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Skidding of timber
harvested during selection cutting |
The features of selection cutting
Selection cutting is rarely carried out in old-growth
stands. This is because natural regeneration is unable to develop
due to the density of the forest canopy, and larger breaches would
be required.
Forests chosen for selection cutting should contain
trees of different ages. The selection cutting process preserves
crop trees and gives them the time and conditions they need to grow
without harming the natural balance of the stand.
Partial cutting is beneficial for wildlife too,
since it maintains enough cover to provide shelter and enough young
shoots to provide food. It also gives animals a place in which to
hide from predators.
Selection cutting does not have a visual impact
on landscapes because only some of the trees are removed, a factor
that is much appreciated by forest users.
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