Clearcutting

Clearcutting is used to regenerate an even-aged stand in which a new age class develops in a fully-exposed microclimate after removal, in a single cutting, of all trees in the previous stand. Regeneration is from natural seeding, planted seedlings, sprouts and/or advanced regeneration. All the trees in the mature stand should be harvested to provide the micro-environment in which the developing regeneration will grow well. Species that regenerate clearcut stands are pioneer species, including the pines.

Keep in mind
Those stems that are not merchantable, those that would be left standing by the logging operation, should be removed or denied growing space in some other way. These trees are usually of undesirable form and/or species, and they never constitute desirable growing stock for the next stand. Many stands in the southeast have been repeatedly harvested without regard to regeneration provisions for the next stand, and the quality of our forests has consequently deteriorated. These stands are described as high-graded. A silvicultural clearcut is way to start fresh by creating a new stand. The future forest:

• Will be an even-aged stand

• Herbaceous species will thrive for a period, something that is unlikely in other regeneration methodology.

• Will increase in diversity of habitat for some wildlife species

• Will have niches for some animals and birds that are only simulated in meadows and fields.

This high-intensity silviculture and management operation provides greater economic values to the landowner, and even-aged stands are usually more productive than uneven-aged stands, partly due to stand structure and partly due to species differences.