What makes for a regulated forest?
A “regulated forest” consists of tree sizes in approximately equal parts (and age classes that correspond to the size classes). As the trees in a stand grow into the harvestable age class, equal volumes may be harvested at roughly equal intervals.
Meyer (1961) says, it is
“the organization and control of growing stock for a sustained yield of forest products from a specific forest area.”
Dr. Kenneth Davis of the University of Michigan wrote in his 1954 text American Forest Management,
“The essential requirement of a fully regulated forest is that age and size classes be represented in such proportion and be consistently growing at such rates that an approximately equal annual or periodic yield of products of desired size and quality may be obtained.” – Source: forestry.alaska.gov
The reasons to regulate forest yield
According to Dietmar Rose and Howard Hoganson (1989),
Economic, social, and administrative factors drive the need for sustained-yield. Regulated forests provide a:
- Yearly cut of approximate equal volume, size, quality, and value of timber implies a stable business planning base ad workload continuity.
- Current growth (harvested) and income not larger than necessary.
- Balance between yearly expenditures and receipts (liquidity)
- High degree of safety from fire, insects, and diseases.
For more, I have blogged about regulating forests here and here.
Nullius in Verba 