Silvicultural timber harvests are usually necessary to meet landowner objectives and to practice sustainable forestry. A good rule of thumb to follow when harvesting is: take the worst and leave the best. This helps insure that the quality of the residual stand improves with each entry. Well-managed stands provide income to the landowner, while maintaining a healthy, functioning forest, and the suite of benefits that goes along with that (e.g., aesthetics, wildlife habitat, watershed and soil protection and recreation). In addition, over the long-term, well-managed forests generally provide a substantially greater financial return than poorly-managed forests. Long-term sustainability should be the primary objective behind all forest management activities.

Harvests can occur either in mid-rotation or when the stand, or a portion of the stand, is mature (regeneration cuts). Mid-rotation harvests include timber stand improvements, crop tree releases, and thinnings. These may be either commercial or non-commercial operations. Regeneration cuts include shelterwood, reserve shelterwood, diameter limit, clearcut, and selection (single-tree and group), although diameter limit cuts are generally not considered to be a sound silvicultural practice, and can lead to high-grading, as can commercial clearcuts.

As with any forest management practice, landowner objectives should first be clearly stated and discussed with a professional forester before any harvesting occurs. You wouldn't go to court without a lawyer... don't harvest without your forester. Landowners and their forester should monitor the progress of the harvest to ensure their objectives are being met.

Timber harvesting does have the potential to negatively impact the health and productivity of a site. Most states have developed best management practices (BMP's) that are designed to protect environmentally sensitive areas such as streams. Again, consultation with your forester will assure BMP compliance and environmentally responsible harvesting. Foresters are there to plan and to protect your interests and the health of your land.

For more information about forestry, timber harvesting, and links to state or professional agencies please visit the Society of American Foresters web pages.