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Silviculture
Scarification
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Mechanized operation in which unproductive land base is treated in such a way to allow to plant tree seedlings. This treatment is usually necessary on sites where natural regeneration of commercial species is inadequate and site conditions will not yield a successful tree planting.
The type of preparation required varies with constraints found in the field as well as site sensitivity. Sites may harbor constraints, namely competition vegetation and limited micro-site availability, and should be evaluated so as to ensure the site will favor optimal seedling growth and distribution (stocking).
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Tree Planting
Artificially inducing regeneration of commercial species on sites where the quantity and quality of commercial species does not meet minimum criteria.
Though usually preceded by site preparation, tree planting can be done on sites that have not been previously prepared with proper site conditions.
Pre-commercial Thinning
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This treatment is intended to imitate natural forest stand growth and to accelerate its effect. Using spacing saws, forest workers select future 'crop trees' and eliminate surrounding competition by cutting the undesirable stems. This will stimulate height and diameter growth in selected 'crop trees' and will generate merchantable lumber at a faster rate.
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Semi-commercial Thinning
The objective of this treatment is to remove poor quality stems and improve stand composition so as to increase the yield of quality stems at the following harvest and increase over all yield from the stand by recuperating what would otherwise be lost to die-back.
The effect on the forest stand is similar to that of pre-commercial thinning but at a later stage in its development.
As it is reflected in the name of the treatment, a portion of the stems harvested is unmerchantable, raising the cost of the operation. This is why semi-commercial thinning is considered a treatment rather than a harvesting prescription.
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