This module introduces the most common silvicultural treatments used to promote forest growth and forest product quality. An ecological approach is employed for the discussion of weed control, thinning and pruning. Basic approaches to monitoring and reporting forest growth are discussed, along with tradeoffs associated with stand improvement treatments.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module, you should be able to:
Recognize the evidence for both above and below-ground competition.
Enumerate the costs and benefits of weed control, thinning, and pruning.
Describe some of the tradeoffs associated with treatments applied to increase stand growth and yield.
Fundamental Topics
Instructions: Read Topics 12.1 - 12.5 from the embedded FODE014 e-Notebook below for Module 12.
Self-check Quiz (For certificate learning only)
After reading fundamental concepts for this topic, take up to 5 minutes to take an online self-check quiz for the topic. The main purpose of the quiz is for you to self-check how well you grasp the contents for this topic. You can take the quiz a second time if necessary. When you are ready, click the link Online Quiz 12 to start taking the quiz.
Recommended Supplementary Readings
Putz, F.E. and C. Romero. 2015. Futures of tropical production forests. Center for International Forestry Research Occasional Paper 143: 1-39. DOI:10.17528/cifor/005766Links to an external site.
Villegas, Z., Peña-Claros, M., Mostacedo, B., Alarcón, A., Licona, J.C., Leaño, C., Pariona, W., Choque, U., 2009. Silvicultural treatments enhance growth rates of future crop trees in a tropical dry forest. For. Ecol. Manage. 258, 971–977.
On the Module 12 Discussion board, briefly describe in a list at least 5 components of a forest stand projection model you would recommend using for making stand management decisions.
Graded Assignments
Follow the instructions at Module 12 Assignment to complete and submit the assignments for this module.
Summary
This module introduces the basic silviultural treatments used to promote the growth and yield of high-quality forest products. An ecological perspective is used, with emphasis on the provision of the appropriate conditions for the growing stock. The monitoring and reporting of growth rates is also discussed.
Self Review (For self learning)
Please use the reflection question below as study guide to conduct self-review for the topic:
What are the environmental tradeoffs associated with silvicultural treatments? After all, management for something (e.g., timber, NTFPs, hydrological functions) is by definition management against something else.