Stocking (forestry)

[1] It is also used as a measure of the growth potential of a site that may be affected by vegetation in the area along with other nearby trees.

[4] Stocking is a major part of forest management, both in commercial applications and for restoration or preservation.

A desirable level of stocking is often considered that which maximizes timber production, or other management objectives.

In these charts are 2 reference lines, A and B, which show where an area is being overstocked, understocked, or fully stocked.

[5] The A-line represents the limit for an uncut forest, any point above this line is considered overstocked.

[5] The B-line represents the best number of trees to be grown in each area based on the space in the stand, any point below this line is considered understocked.

[7] When calculating basal area, foresters use a special prism or gauge that can help get precise estimates.