[-Ontario. Dept.
and Forests-j

Glossary of forest
terminology

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GLOSSARY OF FOREST TERMINOLOGY FACULTY OF FORESTRY

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This forest terminology largely follows that, contained
in the British Commonwealth Forest Terminology, or the Forest
Terminology of the Society of American Foresters. Where these
references have not been in agreement, the definition more suit-
able to the condition in Ontario has been used. Certain terms
in this glossary either are not found in, or are not in agreement
with, theso texts. Such terms are marked with an asterisk.

ADVANCE GROviiTH. Young trees which have become established natur-
ally in openings in the forest, or under the forest-cover,
before the cuttings for regeneration are begun. (BCFT)

AGE-CLASS. One of the intervals into which the range of age of
trees growing in a forest is divided for classification
or use; also the trees falling into such an interval.
(BCFT)

AGE, MATURE. The age at which an individual tree or stand attains

the size required to fulfil the objects of management. (SAF)

AGE, STAND. The average age of the dominant and co-dominant trees
in a stand. (BCFT)

ALLOWABLE CUT. The amount of forest produce, howsoever measured,
that can be cut in a given period under sustained yield
management. (BCFT)

ALLOWABLE CUT by AREA. A method of controlling the annual or perio-
dic cut from a forest on the basis of area. (SAF)

ALLOWABLE CUT by VOLUME. A method of controlling the annual or
periodic cut from a forest on the basis of the volume of
growing stock and increment, using formulae and disregarding
area (SAF).

ANNUAL CUT. The c.mov.nt of forest produce cut or prescribed to be
cut on a given fore si area in a year. (BCFT)

ASPECT. The direction toward which a slope faces (SAF).

BARREN and SCATTERED. Productive forest land v/hich, because of

natural or artificial disturbance, contains only scattered
trees or no trees at all with either shrub cover or bare
soil, but no significant amount of regeneration. Treat-
ment is required to restore such areas to productivity.*

BASAL AREA. The area of the cross-section of a stem, usually of
a tree at breast height. (BCFT)

CANOPY. The cover of branches and foliage formed by tree crowns
(BCFT)

CANOPY, CLOSED. A canopy in which the individual tree crowns are
in general contact with one another. (BCFT)

R 2 2 1966
1059899

2.

CANOPY, MAIN. The principal storey of the stand formed by the
crowns of the dominant and co-dominant trees.*

CLAY. The finest soil particles, under 0.002 mm. in diameter.
Clay exhibits colloidal properties. (BCFT)

CLAY LOAM. A soil intermediate in texture between clay and loam.
(BCFT)

CLEANING. An operation in a young stand, not past the sapling

stage, to free the best trees from undesirable individu-
als of similar age or size which overtop them or are
likely to do so. Cleaning may be accomplished by hand
or by mechanical or chemical methods.* (See Appendix.)

CLIPPING. An operation, usually carried out in conjunction with

cleaning, to remove branches or leaders affected by insects
or disease for the purpose of controlling the spread of
the disease or insect infestation.*

COMPARTMENT. A unit of a forest, permanently defined for the pur-
poses of easy location of forest operations, administra-
tion, and record. (BCFT)

CONVERSION. A change from one silvicultural system, or species,
to another. (BCFT)

COUPE. A cutting or felling area, usually one of an annual succes-
sion unless otherwise stated. (BCFT)

COVER, CROWN. The horizontal projection on the ground of a tree
crown. (BCFT)

COVER, GROUND. The carpet of herbaceous plants, shrubs, ferns and
mosses, which cover the soil. (BCFT)

CUT, ALLOWABLE. The amount of forest produce, howsoever measured,
that can be cut in a given period under sustained yield
management . ( BCFT )

CUT, CLEAR. The removal of the entire growth in one operation,
with or without leaving seed-trees, from an area wider
than two chains.* (Soe Appendix.)

CUT, HARVEST. The cut(s) from which the final yield is derived;
it may be either a single (clear-cut) or a series of cuts
to produce regeneration (shelterwood) . (BCFT — principal
felling)

INTERMEDIATE CUT. An opening of the canopy designed to stimulate
increment of the individual trees left to form the final
crop.* (See Appendix.)

3.

CUT, SELECTION. The removal of mature trees, either as scattered
individuals or in small groups, at relatively short inter-
vals and repeated indefinitely. The objective is repres-
entation of all age -classes distributed throughout the
stand.* (See Appendix.)

CUT, SHELTERWOOD . The removal of mature trees in a series of two
or more cuts for the purpose of obtaining natural regen-
eration under the shelter of the residual stand.* (See
Appendix. )

CUTTING, SALVAGE. The removal of trees killed or injured by

fire, insects, fungi, or other harmful agencies for the
purpose of utilizing merchantable timber before it
becomes worthless. (BCFT)

CUTTING, SANITATION. A specific form of improvement treatment
where diseased, injured, or insect-infested material is
removed or treated for the purpose of reducing the risk
of pests or disease in the forest.*

CUTTING SECTION. A subdivision of a management unit comprised
of one or more compartments and formed with the object
of indicating the progress of the coupes in some special
manner.*

CUTTING, SEVERANCE. A cleared strip-cut through a forest for the
purpose of developing a wind-firm edge before making cuts,
particularly shelterwood strip fellings. (BCFT)

DIAMETER, AVERAGE. The diameter corresponding to the mean basal
area of a group of trees or of a stand. (BCFT)

DIAMETER BREAST HEIGHT. The diameter of a tree stem measured at
breast height and usually outside bark. Abbr. d.b.h.
(BCFT modified)

DUFF. The matted, partly decomposed organic surface layer of
forest soils. (See Litter and Humus.)

ECOLOGY. The study of relation of plants and animals to their

environment and to the site factors that operate in con-
trolling their distribution and growth. (SAF)

EVEN-AGED. Applies to a stand in which relatively small age

differences exist between individual trees. The maximum
difference in age is usually 20 years. (SAF)

FOREST MANAGEMENT. The practical application of the scientific,
technical, and economic principles of forestry. (BCFT)

GIRDLING. To cut through the bark and outer living layers of

wood in a continuous incision all round the bole of a tree.
(BCFT)

4.

GIRDLING, FRILL. A single line of axe cuts overlapping downward
and leaving a frill into which toxic materials may be
poured. (SAF)

GROWING STOCK. The sum, by number or volume, of all the trees
growing in the forest or a specified part of it. (BCFT)

HERBICIDE. A phytotoxic chemical used for killing or inhibiting
the growth of plants. (SAF)

HUMUS The well decomposed organic matter of the soil which may
form a separate layer or be intimately mixed with the
mineral particles. (BCFT) (See Duff and Litter.)

IMPROVEMENT TREATMENT. This is a special form of thinning which
applies particularly to stands that have been mismanaged
or not previously managed and which may be accomplished
by cutting, girdling, or chemical methods.*

INCREMENT. The increase in diameter, basal area, height, volume,
quality or value of individual trees or crops during a
given period. (BCFT)

LIBERATION. An operation to free a young stand, not past the sap-
ling stage, from the competition of older overtopping
individuals. Release may be accomplished by cutting,
girdling, or chemical methods. (SAF modified) (See Appendix.)

LITTER. The uppermost layer of organic debris on a forest floor,
freshly fallen or only slightly decomposed, and consist-
ing chiefly of leaves but also including bark fragments,
twigs, etc. (BCFT)

LOAM. A soil composed of sand, silt, and clay in such propor-
tions that the properties of the soil are not dominated
by any one of them. Loam is characterized by a friable
structure. (BCFT)

MANAGEMENT PERIOD. The period for which detailed prescriptions
are laid down in the management plan.*

MANAGEMENT PLAN. The means by which forest policy, aims, and

objectives are translated into a continuity of specific
treatments for a particular forest area.*

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. A set of procedures co-ordinated for the attain-
ment of the management objectives.*

MANAGEMENT UNIT. A forest area under one ownership or assigned
rights to the timber thereon, organized for efficient
administration and control and operated according to one
management plan.*

MERCHANTABLE TIMBER. Those portions of a tree or crop which can
be marketed under given eccnor.-' <•* ~o"ditions. (BCFT)

5.

MUCK. A soil formed of well decomposed organic material found
under conditions of impeded drainage. (BCFT modified)
(See Peat.)

NONPRODUCTIVE FOREST LAND. Land of inherent low forest potential,
such as open or treed muskeg, periodically flooded lands,
and rock barrens.*

OPERATING PERIOD. The period for which the operating plan is pre-
pared.

OPERATING PLAN. A part of the management plan stating the extent
of all work of any nature to be carried out during one or
more years of the management period. Such plans are based
on the prescriptions of the management plan as modified by
financial provision. (BCFT modified)

OPERATING UNIT. A temporary subdivision of a management unit,

having prominent boundaries, established for the purpose
of controlling operations until the forest is divided
into compartments.*

PEAT. The residues of natural vegetation which have been affec-
ted by processes of anaerobic decomposition, usually under
waterlogged conditions. (BCFT) (See Muck.)

PRESCRIBED BURNING. The application of fire to land under such
conditions of weather, soil, moisture, time of day, and
other factors as presumably will result in the intensity
of heat and spread required to accomplish specific silvicul-
tural, wild life, grazing, or fire hazard reduction pur-
poses. (BCFT)

PRODUCTION FOREST. An area of productive forest land dedicated to
the growing of merchantable timber or the production of
other forest produce.

PRODUCTIVE FOREST LAND. Land bearing, or capable of bearing, tim-
ber of merchantable character and not withdrawn from such
use. (SAF modified.)

PROTECTION FOREST. An area wholly or partially covered with woody
growth, managed primarily to regulate stream-flow, prevent
erosion, hold shifting sand, or exert any other beneficial
influence. (BCFT)

PRUNING. The removal of live or dead branches from standing trees
to increase the quality of the final product.

REGENERATION. The renewal of a forest crop by natural or artifi-
cial means; also the new crop obtained. (BCFT)

REGENERATION PERIOD. The number of years between the harvest cut
and time the new crop becomes established on a particular
forest area.*

6.

REPRODUCTION. All well developed trees below 1 inch diameter
class which give an indication of being represented in
the future stand.*

ROTATION. The number of years required to establish and grow

timber crops to a specific condition of maturity. (SAP)

SAND. Soil particles between 0.02 and 2.0 ram. in diameter.
(BCFT)

SCALPING. In tree planting, removal of sod or other vegetation,
before or at the time of planting, from any spot or
1 scalp* to reduce competition with the tree. (SAF)

SCARIFICATION. The operation of breaking up the forest floor and
top soil preparatory to natural regeneration or direct
seeding. (SAF)

SCATTERED. The term applied to any productive forest land clas-
sification of any age when the stocking is less than 0.3>*

SILT. Soil particles between 0.002 and 0.02 mm. in diameter
(BCFT)

SITE-CLASS. A measure of the relative productive capacity of a
site for a particular species. The average height at a
given age is generally the basis for classification. (BCFT)

SITE PREPARATION. Disturbance of the forest floor and the top

soil to create suitable conditions for natural regenera-
tion, seeding, or planting. This treatment may include
prescribed burning and the removal of undesirable growth.*

SILVICULTURAL SYSTEM. A method of silvicultural procedure worked
out in accordance with the accepted sets of silvicultural
principles by which crops constituting forests are tended,
harvested, and replaced by new crops of distinctive form.
(BCFT) (See Appendix.)

STAND. An aggregation of trees possessing sufficient uniformity
in composition, age, arrangement or condition to be
distinguishable from adjacent crops. (BCFT)

SUBCOMPARTMENT. A division of a compartment requiring different

treatment- from that for other portions of the compartment.
(SAF)

SUBSOIL. The soil between the top soil and the underlying rook.
(BCFT)

SUSTAINED YIELD. A policy, method or plan of management implying
continuous production with the aim of achieving, at the
earliest practical time and at the highest practical level,
an approximate balance between net growth and harvest,
either by annual or longer periods. (BCFT)

-*•

7.

TENDING. Generally, any operation carried out for the benefit of
a forest crop, at any stage of its life — e.g. cleaning,
thinning, pruning, girdling, but not regeneration fellings,
(BCFT)

THINNING. A cut made in an immature stand, usually past the sap-
ling stage , for the purpose of stimulating the growth and
improving the quality of the stand without permanently
breaking the canopy. (BCFT modified) (See Appendix.)

UNDERSTOREY. Trees with crowns under the main canopy.*

VOLUME, GROSS TOTAL. The total tree volume, inside bark, includ-
ing top and stump with no deduction for defect, but
excluding all limbwood.*

VOLUME, GROSS MERCHANTABLE. The volume remaining after the vol-
ume of tops and stumps is deducted from the gross total
volume, with no deduction for defect.

VOLUME, NET MERCHANTABLE. The volume remaining after the deduc-
tions for defect are subtracted from the gross merchant-
able volume .*

WORKING CIRCLE. A division of a management unit for a specific

reason which requires a calculation and allocation of the
allowable cut separate from the calculation for the remain-
der of the management unit.*

WORKING GROUP. An aggregate of stands, including potential forest
areas assigned to this category, having the same predom-
inant species, and managed under the same rotation and
broad silvicultural system.*

8.

APPENDIX I
SILVICULTURAL SYSTEMS

HARVEST CUTTING. The cuts from which the final yield is derived;
it may be either a single — i.e. clear-cut — or a series of cuts to
produce regeneration.

1. CLEAR-CUTTING SYSTEM. The removal of the entire growth in one
operation, from an area wider than two chains. It may be:

a. Clear-cutting without seed-trees; or

b. Clear-cutting with seed-trees.

2. SHELTERVOOD SYSTEM. The removal of mature timber in a series
of two or more cuts for the purpose of obtaining natural
regeneration under the shelter of the residual stand by one
of the following methods:

a. Uniform Shelterwood System. The opening of the canopy
is distributed fairly evenly over the stand.

b. Group Shelterwood System. The opening of the canopy is
designed to form fairly regularly distributed gaps, which
are enlarged by subsequent cuttings as the group of
regeneration develops.

c. Strip Shelterwood System. The cutting operations are in
strips normally progressing against the prevailing wind.
The preferred width of the strip is equal to the height
of the adjacent stand but not exceeding two chains.

Under the uniform or group Shelterwood systems the sequence of
cuttings is as follows:

i) Preparatory Cut. The cutting operation to fit the stand
and seed-bed for future regeneration (not always necessary).

ii) Seeding Cut. The cutting operations to further open the
canopy to provide conditions for securing regeneration.
This must coincide with the seed year of those species it
is desirable to reproduce (in one or more cuttings).

iii) Removal Cut. The cutting operations to remove the remain-
der of the mature stand normally after the establishment of
the regeneration (in one or more cuttings).

3. SELECTION SYSTEM. The removal of mature trees, either as scat-
tered individuals or in small groups, at relatively short
intervals and repeated indefinitely. The objective is represen-
tation of all age-classes distributed throughout the stand.

9.
9. APPENDIX II

Silvicultural Treatments

Intermediate Cuttings

The treatments carried out in a stand between the time
of its formation and its harvest. They are distinguishable from
regeneration cuttings in that the cutting is not conducted with
the intention of creating openings in the crown canopy to obtain
regeneration.

Synonyms :

- Timber Stand Improvement

- Tending

1. CLEANING. An operation in a young stand, not past the sapling
stage, to free the best trees from undesirable individuals of
similar age or size which overtop them or are likely to do so.
Cleaning may be accomplished by hand or by mechanical or chemi-
cal means.

Note: - A sapling is 0.5n to 3-5" dbh and not exceeding 20
years of age.

- The canopy is not permanently broken.

- The undesirable vegetation may be herbs, woody shrubs
or trees.

't. CLIPPING. An operation, usually carried out in conjunction
with cleaning, to remove branches or leaders affected by insects
or disease for the purpose of controlling the spread of the disease
or insect infestation.

10.

3. LIBERATION. An operation to free a young stand, not past the

sapling stage, from the competition of older overtopping individ-
uals. Release may be accomplished by cutting, girdling, or chemical
methods.

Note: The older trees may be of desirable species but of poor form
or less desirable species than the young growth.

4. THINNING. A cutting in an immature stand, usually past the
sapling stage , for the purpose of stimulating the growth and improv-
ing the quality and composition of the stand without permanently
breaking the canopy.

Note: When the felled material cannot be utilized, the operation
is called a pre commercial thinning.

5. IMPROVEMENT TREATMENT. This is a special form of thinning that
applies particularly to stands that have been mismanaged or not
previously managed and may be accomplished by cutting, girdling or
chemical methods.

6. SALVAGE. The removal of trees killed or injured by fire,
insects, fungi or other harmful agencies to utilize merchantable
material before it becomes worthless.

7. SANITATION. A specific form of improvement treatment where
diseased, injured or insect-infested material is removed or treated
for the purpose of reducing the risk of pests or disease in the for-
est.

3. PRUNING. The removal of live or dead branches from standing
trees to increase the quality of the final product.

-

(-Ontario. Dept. of Lands
and Forests^

Glossary of forest
terminology

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LIBRARY

FEE 2 6 1990

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