Selection cutting

A closely related approach to forest management is Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF), which makes use of selection systems to achieve a permanently irregular stand structure.

Uneven-aged stands generally exhibit higher levels of vertical structure (key for many species of birds and mammals), have higher levels of carbon sequestration, and produce a more constant flow of market and non-market forest resources than even-aged stands.

Often the latter term is used by foresters or loggers to imply the former (which has a generally positive connotation in forestry circles) and mislead landowners into stripping their woodlot of its most valuable timber.

This type of selection system generally produces small canopy openings especially conducive to the establishment and growth of shade tolerant tree species.

If the groups created are large enough, and if seed-bed conditions are favorable, this can allow species which are intolerant of shade to regenerate.

[7] Group selection is designed to mimic larger, multi-tree mortality events, which in some environments may represent natural disturbance regimes.

[9] Care need to be taken to avoid epicormic shoots growing on trunks of surrounding trees such that they lead to knotty wood, if timber production is desired.

However, in reality this slope can be seen to vary from what is called an S-curve in old growth forests to cut off the older trees giving a reverse-J curve in a managed stand.

[13] Longer cutting cycles may be used depending on species mix, silvicultural goals and if the aim is amenity or economic forestry in respect to the land.