Forester's glossary

Inventory and forestry terms in brief

14 terms

  • Site class

    Site productivity class: I is the best, V the worst. Determines stand volume potential.

  • Standing volume

    Stemwood volume per ha or per plot, m³. Calculated from diameter at breast height and tree height.

  • Stocking density

    Stand density: 1.0 normal, 0.7 medium, <0.5 sparse. Affects stem quality.

  • DBH

    Diameter at breast height — 1.3 m above ground. The main inventory measurement.

  • Clearcut

    Felling the entire stand at once. Regeneration via planting or natural regrowth.

  • Shelterwood

    Felling in 2–4 stages over 10–15 years so the new generation grows under cover.

  • Selection cut

    Periodic removal of individual trees in uneven-aged stands. The stand is permanently maintained.

  • Stem

    Tree stem without branches and root, from butt to top. The basic logging unit.

  • Assortment

    Part of a stem for a specific use: large sawlogs, medium, small, firewood.

  • Merchantable wood

    Wood suitable for industrial processing (lumber, panels), as opposed to firewood.

  • Compartment / plot

    Compartment is a management unit (typically 1×1 km), a plot is a homogeneous stand within it.

  • Inventory

    Measurement and assessment of a stand: diameters, heights, volume, species, age. Done before felling and for forest planning.

  • Felling ticket

    Felling permit: plot, cut type, volume, allocation norm. Without it, logging is illegal.

  • Felling quota

    Allowed harvest volume per felling under forest planning — the main control mechanism.