STEMS > Silvicultural Systems > Group Selection

Group Selection

The group selection silvicultural system removes small groups of trees from an area of up to a maximum of 0.5 ha. Over time, the management area becomes a multi-aged mosaic of even-aged groups that eventually develops into an uneven-aged forest. The removal of small groups of trees minimizes the visual impact of harvesting, but the resulting canopy openings may be too small to allow enough light for Douglas-fir to regenerate.

For photos of group selection see Tour Stops 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Silvicultural Systems:

1. Patch Cut
2. Extended Rotation
3. Group Selection
4. Clearcut with Reserves
5. Dispersed Retention
6. Extended Rotation with Commercial Thinning
7. Aggregate Retention

Immediately after the first entry

A view of a group selection opening immediately after harvest and five years later.

Summary Description of Key Features

Silvicultural System: Group Selection
Treatment Unit Size: 21.6 ha
Opening Sizes: 11 openings varying in size from 0.06 to 0.5 ha
Deferred Areas: 2.5 ha to be cut every 10 years over 80 years
Retention Structures Objective: 12 ha of adjacent wildlife tree patches
Age Structure: Multi-aged