Comparative effects of full-tree and tree-length shelterwood harvesting on residual tree damage and coarse woody debris volume in the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence forest

Abstract

Residual stand damage and coarse woody debris loads were evaluated in 15 hardwood and white pine uniform shelterwood harvest blocks, in the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Forest Region, using tree-length (TL) and full-tree (FT) harvesting techniques. Stand-level damage rates to residual stems in both the TL and FT harvest operations were below Ontario’s allowable “major” damage limits of 15% to all residual trees and 10% to acceptable growing stock (AGS) trees. No significant differences in damage rates were observed between the TL and FT harvest systems and were comparable to past assessments in TL and FT harvested blocks. Despite efforts to increase utilization of material from these study sites, no significant differences were observed in coarse woody debris (CWD) volume or the distribution of that volume across decay classes.