4. Silviculture : the art and science of controlling the
establishment, growth, composition, and quality of forest
vegetation for the full range of forest resource objectives.
The term silviculture is also used to manage forests for
wildlife, water, recreation, aesthetics, or any combination of
these or other forest uses.
There are many silvicultural systems available for managing
forests depending on the management objectives.
These systems were developed in central Europe over several
centuries
4
5. Silvicultural system: The processes by which a forest are
tended, removed and replaced by new crops, resulting in the
production of woods of a distinctive form.
Broadly classified into two types;
1.
Even-Aged Systems
The even-aged system comprises four regeneration methods that represent a
continuum of residual stand structures:
Clearcutting: an entire commercially mature stand is removed in one
harvest.
Seed tree: mature stand is removed in one cutting, except for a small
number of trees that are left to provide seed for regenerating a new
stand
5
6. Shelterwood: method involves two or more timber harvests
Mostly There are 4 phases of cutting in the shelterwood
method
•
Preparatory cutting
•
Seed cutting
•
Secondary cutting
•
Removal cutting
Coppice System: method is a type of cutting in which
regeneration of the forest depends mainly on vegetative
reproduction from the cut ends of the stumps
6
7. 2.
Uneven-Aged Systems
The uneven-aged system uses the selection method of harvesting
forest crops.
There are two basic variations
• Single tree selection: removes scattered individual trees or
small groups of two or three trees, creating small gaps in the
overstory canopy that favor regeneration of shade tolerant tree
species
• Group selection: creates larger gaps by harvesting all trees in a
one-quarter to one-half acre area, which can allow shade midtolerant species
7
8. An obvious main difference is that none of the main commercial
management systems allow very old (veteran) trees to develop,
hence denying a significant biodiversity niche for fungi, lichens,
insects, hole-nesting birds and bats that all depend upon
deadwood.
wildlife needs for habitat and the effect of forest fragmentation
( some species need edge while others need forest interiors,
cover)
maintaining or enhancing aesthetic forest values in areas of high
public exposure and/or recreational use
8
9. Clear-cutting systems:
From the point of views of big wildlife the system may not be
suitable
In some ways this can be regarded as an advantage as openground species such as some small mammals, birds and
butterflies can also thrive in this environment.
Shelterwood System:
The system may increase the aesthetic value of forest hence
recreational value
Intermediate between clear-cutting and selection system
Selection System:
Uneven aged forest is suitable for wildlife management
Different type of habitat can be found
9
10. In European countries most of the even aged plantation forest,
now being converted with the point of view of wildlife
management
Research and intervention is needed with respect to effect of
silvilcultural system on wildlife and recreation
10