Forest Types and Tree Management

Forest Types and Definitions

• Old-growth forest: Characterized by virgin and ancient trees, often hundreds to thousands of years old, supporting high biodiversity.
• Second-growth forest: Formed through secondary ecological succession, these are stands of trees that regenerate after disturbances.

Tree Management and Harvesting

• Tree plantation: Managed sites planted with one or few tree species, typically harvested by clear-cutting then replanted; often cultivated for rapidly growing species used for fuel, timber, or pulpwood.
• Selective cutting: Involves removing specific mature or diseased trees in uneven-aged forests, promoting younger tree growth and maintaining biodiversity.
• Clear-cutting: A method that entails the complete removal of all trees within a designated area in a single operation.
• Strip-cutting: Modified clear-cutting technique involving narrow corridors cleared along the land's contour, allowing natural regeneration before subsequent strips are cut.

Fire Dynamics in Forests

• Surface fire: A type of forest fire that burns primarily the undergrowth and leaf litter without affecting larger trees.
• Crown fire: A more intense fire that can consume both ground vegetation and the tops of trees, often causing extensive damage.

Legislative Context

• Healthy Forests Restoration Act (2003): Facilitates timber company operations to remove medium and large trees from 71% of National Forest areas in exchange for managing smaller, fire-prone vegetation, bypassing certain environmental reviews.

Land Types and Conservation

• Rangeland: Lands that provide forage for grazing animals and are not subject to intensive management practices.
• Grassland: Biomes characterized by sufficient moderate rainfall to support grass and small plants, but not large trees.
• Nature reserve: Large protected areas established to conserve plant and animal species and their habitats.
• Wilderness: Regions with minimal human presence, preserving natural landscapes and ecosystems.