a cutting procedure by which a new age class is created; the major methods are clearcutting, seed tree, shelterwood, selection, and coppice —synonym reproduction method —see biological legacy, harvesting method, irregular, variable retention harvest system; regeneration methods are grouped in four categories: coppice, even-aged, two-aged, and uneven-aged

1. coppice methods achieve the majority of regeneration from stump sprouts or root suckers —synonym low forest methods

—coppice all trees in the previous stand are cut and the majority of regeneration is from sprouts or root suckers

—coppice selection only selected stems of merchantable size are cut at each felling, giving uneven-aged stands

—coppice with reserves reserve trees are retained to attain goals other than regeneration —synonym coppice with standards —note the method normally creates a two-aged stand

2. even-aged methods regenerate and maintain a stand with a single age class

—clearcutting the cutting of essentially all trees, producing a fully exposed microclimate for the development of a new age class —note 1. regeneration can be from natural seeding, direct seeding, planted seedlings, or advance reproduction —note 2. cutting may be done in groups or patches (group or patch clearcutting), or in strips (strip clearcutting) —note 3. the management unit or stand in which regeneration, growth, and yield are regulated consists of the individual clearcut stand —see 4. uneven-aged methods (group selection) —note 4. when the primary source of regeneration is advance reproduction, the preferred term is overstory removal

—clearcutting with reserves —see 3. two-aged methods

—seed tree the cutting of all trees except for a small number of widely dispersed trees retained for seed production and to produce a new age class in fully exposed microenvironment —note seed trees are usually removed after regeneration is established —also seed tree with reserves —see 3. two-aged methods

—shelterwood the cutting of most trees, leaving those needed to produce sufficient shade to produce a new age class in a moderated microenvironment —note the sequence of treatments can include three types of cuttings: (a) an optional preparatory cut to enhance conditions for seed production, (b) an establishment cut to prepare the seed bed and to create a new age class, and (c) a removal cut to release established regeneration from competition with the overwood; cutting may be done uniformly throughout the stand (uniform shelterwood), in groups or patches (group shelterwood), or in strips (strip shelterwood); in a strip shelterwood, regeneration cuttings may progress against the prevailing wind

—shelterwood with reserves —see 3. two-aged methods, wedge system

3. two-aged methods regenerate and maintain stands with two age classes —note the resulting stand may be two-aged or tend towards an uneven-aged condition as a consequence of both an extended period of regeneration establishment and the retention of reserve (green) trees that may represent one or more age classes

—clearcutting with reserves a clearcutting in which varying numbers of reserve trees are not harvested to attain goals other than regeneration

—seed tree with reserves some or all of the seed trees are retained after regeneration has become established to attain goals other than regeneration

—shelterwood with reserves some or all of the shelter trees are retained after regeneration has become established to attain goals other than regeneration

4. uneven-aged (selection) methods regenerate and maintain a multiaged structure by removing some trees in all size classes either singly, in small groups, or in strips —synonym all-aged methods —see all-aged stand

—group selection trees are removed and new age classes are established in small groups —note 1. the width of groups is commonly approximately twice the height of the mature trees with smaller openings providing microenvironments suitable for tolerant regeneration and larger openings providing conditions suitable for more intolerant regeneration —note 2. the management unit or stand in which regeneration, growth, and yield are regulated consists of an aggregation of groups —see 2. even-aged methods (clearcutting)

—group selection with reserves some trees within the group are not cut to attain goals other than regeneration within the group

—single tree selection individual trees of all size classes are removed more or less uniformly throughout the stand, to promote growth of remaining trees and to provide space for regeneration —synonym individual tree selectionThis definition last updated 10/27/2008