Abstract
The evolving shift in forest management objectives towards the collective consideration of volumetric yield, end-product quality and value, and ecosystem service outcomes, while accounting for the impacts of anthropogenic climate change, has resulted in innovative advancements in decision-support models used in stand density management. This review provides a synopsis of these efforts with respect to static, dynamic, and structural stand density management diagrams (SDMDs). More precisely, the scope of this review includes an ecology-based perspective of stand density management, summarization of the foundational quantitative relationships along with their utilization within the analytical structure of the SDMD, examination of SDMD compliance with underlying ecological constructs and empirical prediction expectations, exemplification of a climate-sensitive structural SDMD variant in boreal crop planning, and identification of outstanding analytical challenges and plausible future research directions for advancing the SDMD modelling approach and its utility in stand-level management planning. Collectively, this account of the conceptual basis, historical analytical evolution, ecological integrity, predictive ability, application diversity, and demonstrated utility of the various SDMD variants solidifies the prerequisite evidentiary foundation for the continued development and deployment of SDMD-based crop planning decision-support models.
Highlights
Commercial thinning is an intermediate harvest where the merchantable wood removed should cover part or all of the cost of harvesting. It is defined as a thinning “in which all or part of the felled trees are extracted for useful products...” (Smith, 1986)
This guideline concentrates on commercial thinning as part of the clearcut silvicultural system
With medium levels of root rot commercial thinning is only recommended if other cutting methods cannot be applied
Summary
Commercial thinning is an intermediate harvest where the merchantable wood removed should cover part or all of the cost of harvesting. Effect of Commercial Thinning on the Growth of Trees and Stands Intensity, timing and type of thinning are factors that can be manipulated in a commercial thinning regime to meet stand-level objectives. A long-term plan to help meet higher level objectives with commercial thinning requires an investment in surveying.
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