Your Woodland: Glossary of Forestry Terms
(Note: Forestry regulations may have somewhat different definitions and requirements. Please check the current rules for regulatory matters.)
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Download pdf version of this glossary
- acre
- View definition a unit of land equal to 43,560 square feet; a square parcel of land approximately 208.5 feet on each side.
Close Definition - aesthetics
- View definition the forest value, rooted in beauty and visual appreciation, affording inspiration, contributing to the arts, and providing a special quality of life.
Close Definition - all-aged stand
- View definition see unevenaged stand.
Close Definition - annual rings
- View definition see growth rings.
Close Definition - aspect
- View definition the compass direction toward which a slope faces.
Close Definition Return to Top - basal area
- View definition the crosssectional area of the trunk 4 1/2 feet above the ground; most commonly used as an indicator of stand density and expressed as square feet per acre. A tree with a 14” diameter has a basal area of just over one square foot.
Close Definition - basal area factor prism
- View definition an instrument used by Foresters to determine the stocking of the forest.
Close definition - best management practices (BMPs)
- View definition voluntary guidelines developed by the Maine Forest Service and Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC), determined to be the most effective and practicable means of minimizing erosion and sedimentation of water bodies (streams, ponds, lakes, rivers, etc.) from logging activities.
Close definition - biltmore stick
- View definition a tool calibrated to measure the diameter of a tree at breast height.
Close definition - biological diversity or biodiversity
- View definition the variety of life in all its forms and all its levels of organization. Biodiversity refers to diversity of genetics, species, ecosystems, and landscapes.
Close definition - biomass
- View definition often the lowest value forest product. Usually consists of stems, branches, bark, etc., that cannot be marketed in any other way. Chipped and used as fuel.
Close definition - blaze
- View definition to remove a spot of bark from a tree, usually with an axe, to make a semipermanent mark. Commonly painted to indicate boundary lines.
Close definition - blowdown
- View definition any area on which (many of) the trees have been thrown or broken by the wind. See windthrow.
Close definition - board foot
- View definition a unit for measuring wood volume in a tree, log, or board. A board foot is 1 foot by 1 foot by 1 inch, but any shape containing 144 cubic inches of wood equals one board foot. Usually used for sawlog material only. A common symbol is MBF, which designates one thousand board feet.
Close definition - bole
- View definition the trunk or main stem of a tree.
Close definition - breast height
- View definition 4-1/2 feet above ground level. See diameter at breast height.
Close definition - browse
- View definition twigs, shoots, and leaves of woody plants used as food by woodland mammals such as deer, moose and snowshoe hare.
Close definition - buck
- View definition to saw a felled tree into shorter lengths. A skilled logger knows the markets and can increase the value of the tree by bucking it to fit the available markets.
Close definition - buffer strip
- View definition a narrow zone or strip of land, trees, or vegetation bordering an area. Common examples include visual buffers, which screen the view along roads, and streamside buffers, which are used to protect water quality. Vegetation left along a stream, lake or wetland to protect aquatic life and water quality. Buffer strips filter sediment, provide food, maintain cool water tempertures, and may increase diversity within a landscape.
Close definition - bumper tree
- View definition trees near skid trails used as pivot points to turn a load of logs, usually resulting in severe injury to the bumper trees. In skid trail layout, bumper trees are left in place to protect high-quality trees from skidding damage.
Close definition - butt log
- View definition a log cut from the bole immediately above the stump.
Close definition Return to Top - canopy
- View definition the more or less continuous cover formed by tree crowns in a forest.
Close definition - chopper
- View definition see logger.
Close definition - clearcut
- View definition a forest harvesting practice in which most or all trees are removed from a site. Clearcuts are used for immediate commercial purposes and for regeneration of future forests. Clearcuts in Maine are defined by state statute.
Close definition - codominant tree
- View definition a tree that extends its crown into the canopy and receives direct sunlight from above but limited sunlight from the sides. One or more sides of a codominant tree are crowded by the crowns of dominant trees.
Close definition - commercial clearcut
- View definition a harvest cut that removes all merchantable timber from the area. See high grading.
Close definition - commercial thinning
- View definition harvests which are aimed primarily at controlling the growth of stands through adjustment in stand density. Trees removed are useful and of value for some purpose. Income from the sale or use of products produced exceeds ALL costs associated with harvesting and removing timber.
Close definition - community
- View definition a collection of living organisms thriving in an organized system through which water, energy, and nutrients cycle.
Close definition - competition
- View definition the struggle between trees to obtain sunlight, nutrients, water, and growing space.
Close definition - conifer
- View definition commonly called softwoods or evergreens. Although there are exceptions, most coniferous trees have cones and keep their needles through the winter.
Close definition - conservation easement
- View definition a legal agreement between a property owner and a qualified conservation organization or agency that restricts the uses which may be made of the property. Most conservation easements limit or prohibit development of the land for commercial, industrial, and residential uses in perpetuity.
Close definition - consulting Forester
- View definition an independent professional who provides services to private woodland owners. Services may include expert advice, preparation of Woodland Management Plans, appraisal of timber value, and planning and oversight of timber harvesting. Consulting Foresters do not have direct connections with firms that buy wood products, but are retained by woodland owners as their agents. See Forester.
Close definition - contract
- View definition a formal, written, legally binding form of communication (agreement). In forestry, a contract is recommended between a landowner and a logger before harvesting timber, and between a landowner and a Forester for any work expected to exceed several hundred dollars.
Close definition - cord
- View definition a unit of volume used in measuring wood products. A standard cord occupies 128 cubic feet of space and contains approximately 85 cubic feet of wood. It is commonly described as a close piled stack of wood 4 feet high, 8 feet long, with sticks 4 feet in length. A cord is the legal measure of fuelwood volume in Maine.
Close definition - cordwood
- View definition small diameter or low-quality wood suitable for firewood, pulp, or chips. Cordwood is not suitable for sawlogs.
Close definition - cost share assistance
- View definition an assistance program offered by various state and federal agencies that pays a fixed rate or percentage of the total cost necessary to implement a forestry practice. crook – a tree defect characterized by a sharp bend in the main stem.
Close definition - crop tree
- View definition those trees in a stand destined to form the final crop, usually the highest quality and value of all the trees in a stand. Crop trees may be selected from an immature stand and carried through to the final harvest.
Close definition - crotch
- View definition see fork.
Close definition - crown
- View definition the live branches, twigs, and foliage of a tree.
Close definition - crown classes
- View definition a classification of the position of an individual tree’s crown relative to the rest of the forest canopy. See codominant, dominant, intermediate, overtopped, and suppressed.
Close definition - crown closure
- View definition the percentage of a given area covered by tree crowns.
Close definition - crown ratio or live-crown ratio
- View definition the ratio of the length of live crown of a tree to its total height. Live crown ratio is usually expressed as a percentage of total height.
Close definition - cruise
- View definition a systematic, statistically valid forest inventory used to obtain qualitative information about the forest. A cruise is often the first step in developing a Woodland Management Plan; the estimate obtained in such a survey.
Close definition - cull
- View definition trees or logs which are rejected, or volumes deducted in log scaling because of a defect.
Close definition - cutting cycle
- View definition the period of time between major harvests in a stand, usually determined by the type of management being practiced, the condition and type of the forest, and the growing conditions of the soil.
Close definition Return to Top - deciduous
- View definition shedding or losing leaves annually. Trees such as maple, ash, cherry, and larch are deciduous.
Close definition - deed
- View definition a legal document usedto transfer title in real property from one person to another.
Close definition - defect
- View definition any irregularity or imperfection on a tree, log, or other wood product that reduces the volume of usable wood or lowers its durability, strength, or utility value. Defects may result from knots and other growth conditions and abnormalities; from insect or fungus attack; or from logging, or other processing procedures.
Close definition - den tree
- View definition a tree with holes or cavities suitable for birds or mammals to nest in.
Close definition - diameter at breast height (dbh)
- View definition standard measurement of a tree's average diameter, outside the bark, taken at 4 1/2 feet above the ground.
Close definition - diameter-limit sale
- View definition a timber sale in which all trees over a specified diameter may be cut. Most Maine forests are even-aged and small diameter trees are as old, although not as vigorous as the larger stems. Diameter-limit sales often result in high grading. This type of cutting is not usually regarded as wise, longterm forest management as it can cause the loss of stand vigor from the removal of the fastest-growing trees.
Close definition - dimension lumber
- View definition wood products that are sawn from logs. Hardwood dimension lumber is often used in the manufacture of furniture or other products. Softwood dimension lumber is most commonly used in construction, furniture, and other products.
Close definition - disturbance
- View definition a change in forest cover caused by natural or human causes. Common forest disturbances in New England include clearing for agriculture, abandonment of agricultural fields, windstorms, ice storms, fire, flood, logging, mining, and development.
Close definition - dominant
- View definition trees whose crowns extend above those of surrounding trees which capture sunlight from above and on one or more side of the crown.
Close definition - duff
- View definition forest litter of organic debris (in various stages of decomposition) on top of the mineral soil.
Close definition Return to Top - easement
- View definition see conservation easement.
Close definition - ecology
- View definition the study of interactions between organisms and their environment.
Close definition - ecosystem
- View definition organisms and the physical, chemical, and biological factors that make up their environment.
Close definition - edge
- View definition the boundary between two ecological communities, for example, field and woodland. Edges often provide habitat for certain wildlife species.
Close definition - endangered or threatened species
- View definition a species is endangered when the total number of remaining members may not be sufficient to reproduce enough offspring to ensure survival of the species. A threatened species exhibits declining or dangerously low populations but still has enough members to maintain or increase numbers.
Close definition - epicormic branching
- View definition branches that grow out of the main stem of a hardwood tree from dormant buds produced under the bark, usually in response to damage or an increase in light. Severe epicormic branching increases knottiness and reduces lumber quality.
Close definition - even-aged stand
- View definition a stand in which most trees originated around the same time (i.e. the age difference between the oldest and youngest trees is minimal, usually no greater than 10 to 20 years.) Even-aged stands result from cutting of all the trees in a stand within a relatively short period of time, major natural disturbances (such as fire), or reversion of cleared land to forest.
Close definition - even-aged management
- View definition managing a forest or forest stand to produce a forest of trees of the same relative age. Even-aged management techniques include intermediate treatments, clearcuts, patch clearcuts, and shelterwood cuts.
Close definition Return to Top - felling
- View definition the cutting of standing trees.
Close definition - filter strip
- View definition an area of forest adjacent to a water body where measures are taken to limit disturbance of the forest floor (natural vegetation, soil, and forest litter, or fallen leaves and branches) to prevent erosion during or after timber harvesting.
Close definition - flagging
- View definition the act of temporarily designating the location of a road, trail, or boundary by hanging strips of colored plastic on trees or stakes.
Close definition - forest
- View definition a biological community dominated by trees and other woody plants.
Close definition - forest fragmentation
- View definition the division of large natural landscapes into smaller, more isolated fragments, due to development, road construction, or other changes. Fragmentation affects the viability of wildlife populations and ecosystems, and may reduce options for forest management by reducing woodlot size.
Close definition - forest management
- View definition the application of sound forestry principles and practices to the operation of the woodlands.
Close definition - Forest Management Plan (also called Woodland Management Plan or FMP)
- View definition a written document, based on landowner objectives and resources on the ground, which guides future activities to care for the land and accomplish the landowner’s objectives over the long term. Plans may consider many
resources including wildlife, recreational opportunities, aesthetics, timber, water, soil, wetlands, unique features, and cultural resources.
Close definition - forest types
- View definition associations of tree species that have similar ecological requirements. Some common forest types in Maine are spruce-fir, northern hardwoods, pine-oak, and poplar birch. Often types are simplified into hardwood, softwood, and mixed wood.
Close definition - forested wetland
- View definition an area dominated by woody vegetation taller than 20 feet where soil is at least periodically saturated or covered by water.
Close definition - forester
- View definition a professional, usually with a college or university degree, trained in forestry and forest management. In Maine, all Foresters must be licensed by the state.
Close definition - forestry
- View definition the art, science, and craft of tending woodlands to derive benefits to humans.
Close definition - fork
- View definition a tree defect characterized by the division of a bole or main stem into two or more stems.
Close definition - form
- View definition with reference to a tree, the degree of taper between diameter at the tip of a 1 foot stump and diameter at the top of the first 16 foot log.
Close definition Return to Top - girdle/girdling
- View definition the removal or killing of a ring of bark around the tree stem so that the flow of carbohydrates from crown to roots is blocked. The roots die and the whole tree is killed. Usually used to create
a snag for wildlife habitat or to eliminate the influence of a large tree’s presence in the canopy without actually felling the tree.
Close definition - grade
- View definition the rise or fall in ground level over 100 feet of horizontal distance, expressed as a percentage
Close definition - grade log
- View definition the designation of the quality of a manufactured piece of wood or of logs.
Close definition - great pond
- View definition any natural inland body of water with surface area over 10 acres, or artificially created or increased body of water over 30 acres.
Close definition - group selection
- View definition a method of regenerating uneven-aged stands of trees by removing/ harvesting trees in small groups or patches. Group selection typically encourages the reproduction of tree species that are somewhat to moderately tolerant of shade.
Close definition - growing stock
- View definition trees capable of producing at least one 12-foot sawlog now or in the future.
Close definition - growth rings
- View definition the layers of wood a tree adds each growing season. These rings frequently are visible when a tree is cut and can be used to estimate its age and growth rate.
Close definition Return to Top - habitat
- View definition the ecosystem in which a plant or animal lives and depends on for cover, breeding sites, food, and water.
Close definition - hardwoods
- View definition a general term encompassing broadleaf, deciduous trees.
Close definition - hardwood type
- View definition a forest in which hardwood tree species comprise at least 75% of the stand.
Close definition - harvest
- View definition the cutting, felling, and removal of forest timber or other forest materials.
Close definition - harvester
- View definition a person or machine who carries out a harvest.
Close definition - herbaceous vegetation
- View definition low-growing, non-woody plants, including wildflowers and ferns, in a forest understory.
Close definition - high grading
- View definition an exploitive logging practice that removes only the best, most accessible, and valuable trees from a stand, leaving lower-quality trees to grow into a lowerquality forest. High grading should be distinguished from even-aged management in which mature and immature trees are removed to aid regeneration.
Close definition Return to Top - improvement cut
- View definition an intermediate treatment to improve the growth rate and vigor of residual trees. An intermediate cut made to improve the form, quality, health, or wildlife potential of the residual stand.
Close definition - increment borer
- View definition an augerlike tool with a hollow bit designed to extract cores from tree stems for the determination of age and growth rate.
Close definition - intermediate tree
- View definition trees with crowns that extend into the canopy with dominant and codominant trees. These trees receive little direct sunlight from above and none from the sides. Crowns generally are small and crowded on all sides.
Close definition - intolerance
- View definition see tolerance.
Close definition - introduced species
- View definition a nonnative species that was intentionally or unintentionally brought into an area by humans.
Close definition Return to Top - jobber
- View definition see logger
Close definition Return to Top - landing
- View definition a cleared area within or adjacent to a timber harvest where logs or tree length material are processed, piled, stored and loaded for transport to a sawmill or other facility.
Close definition - landowner objectives
- View definition goals that landowners have for the current and future use of their property. They are deliberally thought out and defined in order to formulate a course of action to accomplish them.
Close definition - liquidation harvesting
- View definition the purchase of timberland, followed by the removal of most or all commercial value in standing timber and prompt resale of the land. This is generally viewed as inconsistent with accepted principles of forest management.
Close definition - log
- View definition a section of the main stem of a tree, varying in length and minimum diameters according to local market standards, that is usually sawn into lumber. As a verb, log refers to the process of harvesting, extracting, and transporting logs to a mill.
Close definition - log grading
- View definition the assignment of a quality class to a log.
Close definition - logger
- View definition an individual who harvests timber for a living.
Close definition - log rule or scale
- View definition a method for calculating wood volume in a tree or log by using its diameter and length. The international 1/4-inch rule is the legal rule in Maine
Close definition - log scaling
- View definition the estimation of the board foot volume to be sawn from a log. A log scale volume is an accepted form of measurement in log marketing.
Close definition - lopping
- View definition cutting tree tops and branches from felled trees, to bring them closer to the ground. Lopping can increase visibility, improve the forest’s appearance, reduce fire danger, and speed up the rotting and return of nutrients to the soil after harvesting.
Close definition - lump-sum sale
- View definition a timber sale in which a total price for all standing trees to be harvested is contracted, based on their estimated total value. The lump sum is set before the wood is removed and typically paid in a single payment. See also unit sale.
Close definition Return to Top - marking
- View definition the practice of indicating by paint or other visible, semipermanent means trees which are to be cut or are to remain after harvesting. A common practice is to mark trees to be harvested twice–once at eye level and once at the base. Marking may also be used to designate trees for other treatments, such as pruning.
Close definition - mast
- View definition fruits, nuts and seeds, of trees and shrubs that serve as food for wildlife. “Hard mast” refers to nuts such as acorns, beechnuts, or hazelnuts. “Soft mast” refers to fruits such as cherries, wild apples, and various berries.
Close definition - merchantable height
- View definition the point on a tree stem to which the stem is salable.
Close definition - mixed wood type
- View definition forest stands occupied by a mixture of softwood and hardwood tree species. Neither hardwood nor softwood tree species occupy more than 75% of the tree stocking.
Close definition Return to Top - natural regeneration
- View definition seedlings from natural seeding or sprouts and other plants representing vegetative eproduction.
Close definition - niche
- View definition the physical location and functional role of an organism within an ecosystem and how it interacts with other species.
Close definition - nongame wildlife
- View definition wildlife species that are typically not hunted, either by common practice or by state wildlife laws. Examples include songbirds, eagles, amphibians, insects, etc.
Close definition - nonindustrial private forestland (NIPF)
- View definition woodland owned by a private individual, group, or corporation not involved in wood processing. Fifty-five percent of Maine’s forests are in this category.
Close definition Return to Top - objectives
- View definition see landowner objectives.
Close definition - old-growth forest
- View definition a wooded area that has no evidence of harvest or alteration by humans. An old-growth forest often has large individual trees, a multilayered crown canopy, and a significant accumulation of large woody material, including snags and fallen logs.
Close definition - overmature
- View definition a quality exhibited by trees that have declined in growth rate because of old age and loss of vigor.
Close definition - overstocked
- View definition the situation in which trees are so closely spaced that they compete for resources and do not reach full growth potential.
Close definition - overstory
- View definition the level of forest canopy that includes the crowns of dominant, codominant, and intermediate trees.
Close definition - overstory removal
- View definition see shelterwood.
Close definition - overtopped
- View definition the situation in which a tree cannot sufficiently extend its crown into the overstory and receive direct sunlight. Overtopped trees that lack shade tolerance lose vigor and die. See suppressed.
Close definition Return to Top - pallet log
- View definition a low-grade hardwood log suitable for producing low-grade products such as pallets.
Close definition - patch cut
- View definition removal of all trees within designated small areas in the harvest area. Areas are larger than those cut in a group selection method harvest. An even-aged management technique.
Close definition - pesticide
- View definition any chemical used to control undesirable insects, vegetation or animals, or to guard against or treat a forest health problem.
Close definition - pole stand
- View definition a stand of trees whose average dbh is between 4 and 10 inches.
Close definition - precommercial treatments
- View definition forestry operations that require landowner investment, such as cleaning or weeding stands to remove trees that have little or no economic or market value. Precommercial treatments can improve species composition and increase the quality, growth, and vigor of remaining trees.
Close definition - prescription
- View definition a course of action recommended to bring about a desired change in a forest stand.
Close definition - pruning
- View definition the act of sawing or cutting branches from a living tree. In woodland management, pruning is done to promote the growth of clear wood free of knots, from which more valuable, knot-free boards can be sawn. Pruning is usually done in conjunction with thinning.
Close definition - pulp/pulpwood
- View definition wood suitable for use in paper manufacturing.
Close definition Return to Top - reforestation
- View definition the establishment of a forest through artificially planted seed or seedlings. The vast majority of forests in Maine regenerate naturally without need for planting.
Close definition - regeneration
- View definition the process by which a forest is reseeded and renewed. Advance regeneration refers to regeneration that is established before the existing forest stand is removed.
Close definition - release
- View definition the process by which young stands of desirable trees, not past the sapling stage, are freed from the competition of undesirable trees that threaten to suppress them.
Close definition - residual stand
- View definition the trees remaining uncut (and hopefully undamaged) following any cutting operation.
Close definition - riparian zone
- View definition a strip of variable width, depending on the riparian functions identified, where special management considerations may be advisable to maintain or enhance those functions. Riparian functions can include protecting bank and channel stability, maintaining shade and inputs of vegetation to the water, carrying water to the surface, maintaining water quality, and providing wildlife habitat.
Close definition - roadside sale
- View definition a timber harvest in which trees are harvested, brought to a place accessible to a log truck, and are sold from that location.
Close definition - rot
- View definition a tree defect characterized by woody decay in a standing tree or log.
Close definition - rotation
- View definition the number of years required to grow a stand to a desired size or maturity. See even-aged management.
Close definition Return to Top - salvage cut
- View definition the removal of dead, damaged, or diseased trees to recover maximum value prior to deterioration.
Close definition - sanitation cut
- View definition removal of diseased, damaged, overmature, or undesirable stems from a stand.
Close definition - sapling
- View definition a tree from 1 to 4 inches in diameter.
Close definition - sapling stand
- View definition a stand of trees whose average dbh is between 1 and 4 inches.
Close definition - sawlog
- View definition a log of sufficient size and quality to be sawed economically on a sawmill for use in lumber and other products.
Close definition - sawlog tree
- View definition a standing tree that contains at least 1 sawlog.
Close definition - sawtimber
- View definition sawlog-sized trees.
Close definition - sawtimber stand
- View definition a stand of trees where sawlog trees predominate.
Close definition - scale stick
- View definition a calibrated stick used to estimate wood volume in a log.
Close definition - scaling
- View definition the process of measuring the dimensions of individual logs or trees. The measurements are used to estimate the volume of the logs or trees by applying them to a log rule or tree volume table.
Close definition - scarification
- View definition the disturbance of the forest floor to expose areas of mineral soil. This is done to prepare a seedbed and encourage establishment of desired species of tree seedlings.
Close definition - sealed-bid sale
- View definition a lump sum or unit timber sale, usually offered with the assistance of a consulting Forester, in which buyers submit secret bids.
Close definition - seed tree
- View definition a mature tree left uncut to provide seed for regeneration of a harvested stand.
Close definition - seed-tree harvest
- View definition the felling of all the trees in an area except for a few desirable individuals that provide seed for the next forest. An evenaged management technique.
Close definition - seedling
- View definition trees that are less than 3 feet tall.
Close definition - selection harvest
- View definition a method of harvesting in which individual trees or small groups of trees are removed to regenerate new seedlings and maintain an uneven-aged forest. Selection harvests are used to manage species that do not need high levels of sunlight to regenerate and survive in the understory.
Close definition - selective harvesting
- View definition often used as a “catch all” for all types of partial cuttings. It is an exploitive cutting and often used to describe high grading, liquidation harvests, and diameter limit cutting. Who is doing the selecting and what criteria are they using?
Close definition - shelterwood harvest
- View definition a method of regenerating new, even–aged stands by harvesting all mature trees in an area in a series of two or more cuts occurring within 10-20 years. One or more cuts leave merchantable trees to provide shade and protection for the establishment of forest seedlings. The second or third cut, or final removal, removes the remaining mature trees to give the regenerated trees full sunlight.
Close definition - silviculture
- View definition the art and science of growing and tending forest trees.
Close definition - single-tree selection
- View definition removal of single trees distributed throughout a harvest area.
Close definition - site
- View definition the combination of biotic, climactic, topographic, and soil conditions of an area that determines the character and productivity of forest stands.
Close definition - site index
- View definition a measure of the quality and potential productivity of a site based on the height of dominant trees at a specified age (usually 50 years), depending on the species.
Close definition - site preparation
- View definition treatment of the forest floor and/or understory vegetation of an area to facilitate natural or artificial reestablishment of a forest stand. Site preparation can include mechanical clearing, burning, or chemical (herbicide) vegetation control.
Close definition - skid
- View definition to drag logs or tree lengths either wholly or partially on the ground.
Close definition - skidder
- View definition a generic term for a machine (usually rubber-tired) with a cable winch or grapple used to drag logs out of the forest.
Close definition - skidding
- View definition the act of moving trees from the site of felling to a leading area or landing. Tractors, horses, or specialized logging equipment can be used for skidding. Skidding methods and operator skill vary significantly, and as a result differ in their efficiency and impact on soils and the remaining stands.
Close definition - skid road/skid trail
- View definition an unsurfaced single-lane road used by skidders and other extraction equipment to access forest products for transport from the harvest area to the yard or landing.
Close definition - slash
- View definition bark, branches, uprooted stumps and other woody material left on a site after logging, road construction or land maintenance.
Close definition - snag
- View definition dead standing trees, often with tops broken off. Snags serve as perches, lookouts, and provide important food and cover for a wide variety of wildlife species.
Close definition - softwood
- View definition used to designate all coniferous (cone-bearing species) as a class, including pines, hemlock, larch or hackmatack, spruces, balsam fir, and cedar.
Close definition - softwood type
- View definition a forest in which softwood tree species comprise at least 75 percent of the stocking.
Close definition - springpole
- View definition saplings or smaller trees that are bent over by a larger felled tree. They can be under extreme tension and are dangerous.
Close definition - sprout
- View definition a tree growing from a cut stump or previously established root system. See also sucker.
Close definition - stand
- View definition a group of forest trees of sufficiently uniform species composition, age, and condition to be considered a homogeneous unit for management purposes. See also forest types.
Close definition - stand density
- View definition the quantity of trees per unit area, usually evaluated in terms of basal area, crown cover and stocking.
Close definition - stem
- View definition see bole.
Close definition - stewardship
- View definition the act of taking care of your land for the long term. Leaving your property in better condition than you found it.
Close definition - stewardship plan
- View definition see Forest Management Plan or Woodland Management Plan.
Close definition - stocking
- View definition a measurement of how fully the trees in a forest stand occupy the available growing space of the site, expressed in terms of trees per acre, basal area per acre, volume per acre, or percent of crown closure. Stands are often classified as understocked, well-stocked or overstocked.
Close definition - stratification
- View definition the tendency of competing trees and shrubs in a developing stand to separate into different layers. The stratification of a stand can provide distinct niches for wildlife. See canopy, understory, and herbaceous vegetation.
Close definition - stream channel
- View definition a channel between defined banks created by the action of surface water, which is characterized by the lack of terrestrial vegetation or by the presence of a bed, devoid of topsoil, containing waterborne deposits or exposed soil parent material or bedrock; and which is connected hydrologically with other water bodies. “Stream channel” does not include rills or gullies forming because of accelerated erosion in disturbed soils where the natural vegetative cover has been removed by human activity. Close definition
- streamside management zone
- View definition a forested area beside a stream or other body of water which is managed to protect or enhance the values associated with the water body, such as water quality,aquatic and other wildlife habitat.
Close definition - stumpage
- View definition the value of standing trees in a forest.
Close definition - stumpage price
- View definition the price offered or paid for standing forest trees.
Close definition - stumpage sale
- View definition a timber sale arrangement where a fee is paid to the landowner for the standing trees, accompanied by the right of the buyer to harvest the trees from the property under agreed conditions.
Close definition - stump height
- View definition the distance from the ground to the top of the stump. Good logging practice dictates that stumps be as low as possible (preferably as low as 12 inches) to reduce waste and to minimize visual impact on the logging site.
Close definition - succession
- View definition the natural replacement of one plant (or animal) community by another over time in the absence of disturbance.
Close definition - suppressed
- View definition a tree condition characterized by low growth rate and low vigor as a result of competition with overtopping trees. See overtopped.
Close definition - sustainability
- View definition the ability of the natural environment to supply goods and services to humans for the indefinite future.
Close definition - sustained yield
- View definition an idealized forest management objective in which the volume of wood removed equals growth within the total forest over an appropriate period of time.
Close definition - sweep
- View definition a tree defect characterized by a gradual curve in the main stem.
Close definition Return to Top - thinning
- View definition a partial cut in an immature, overstocked stand of trees used to increase the stand's value growth by concentrating on individuals with the best potential.
Close definition - timber stand improvement (TSI)
- View definition any practice that increases the rate of growth or improves composition or quality in a developing stand of trees, thus enhancing its potential value. Pruning, thinning, and weeding are considered TSI.
Close definition - timber trespass
- View definition the negligent curring or removal of trees on a property without landowner permission.
Close definition - tolerance
- View definition a tree species' ability to grow and thrive in shade.
Close definition - trim allowance/trim
- View definition the extra 4 to 6 inches left on a bucked log to allow logs with end checks, pulls, or slanting buck cuts to be trimmed to standard lumber lengths.
Close definition - twitch
- View definition see skid.
Close definition Return to Top - understocked
- View definition a stand of trees so widely spaced that crown closure will not occur; such stands typically do not fully occupy the site nor can they achieve the site’s full growth potential.
Close definition - understory
- View definition the smaller vegetation (shrubs, seedlings, saplings, small trees) within a forest stand, occupying the vertical zone between the overstory and the herbaceous plants of the forest floor.
Close definition - uneven-aged stand
- View definition an area of forest composed of trees of similar species, in which trees of several age classes are represented. See all-aged stand.
Close definition - unit sale
- View definition a timber sale in which a separate price is agreed upon for multiple species/product combinations, and payments to the landowner are based on the actual measurements of wood products shown in mill receipts. Payments under a unit sale typically occur within an agreed-upon time frame for wood trucked since the last payment.
Close definition Return to Top - veneer log
- View definition a high-quality log of a desirable species suitable for conversion to veneer. Veneer logs must be large, straight, of minimum taper, and free from defects.
Close definition - vernal pool
- View definition an ephemeral body of water that fills in the spring, holds water for at least 10 days, and dries up by fall some or all years and that does not contain fish. Vernal pools are extremely important habitat for a variety of amphibians and reptiles.
Close definition - virgin forest
- View definition see old-growth forest.
Close definition Return to Top - water bar
- View definition a small earth berm or dam constructed at an angle across a skid road or trail to direct surface water to a stable vegetated surface or filter strip.
Close definition - watershed
- View definition a region defined by patterns of stream drainage. A watershed includes all the land that contributes water to a particular point of interest on a stream, river, lake, or coastal feature.
Close definition - weeding
- View definition the removal of all plants competing with a crop species, regardless of whether their crowns are above, beside, or below those of the desirable trees. Removal of diseased, damaged, and poor quality trees.
Close definition - well-stocked
- View definition the situation in which a forest stand contains trees spaced widely enough to prevent competition yet closely enough to utilize the entire site.
Close definition - wetlands
- View definition ponds, freshwater swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and for a duration sufficient to support, and which under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of wetland vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soils. Wetlands may be either freshwater or tidal.
Close definition - wildlife habitat
- View definition the native environment of an animal. Habitats ideally provide all the elements needed for life and growth: food, water, cover and space.
Close definition - windfirm
- View definition the ability of the root system of a tree to withstand wind pressure and keep the tree upright.
Close definition - windthrow
- View definition a tree felled by wind. Windthrows, also known as blowdowns, are common among shallow-rooted species and in areas where cutting has reduced stand density.
Close definition - wolf tree
- View definition a large older tree with a spreading crown and little or no timber value, but often having great value for wildlife. The same function as a snag, except the tree is still alive and possibly producing mast.
Close definition - woodland
- View definition see forest.
Close definition - Woodland Management Plan (also called Forest Management Plan )
- View definition a written document, based on landowner objectives and resources on the ground, which guides future activities to care for the land and accomplish the landowner’s objectives over the long term. Plans may consider many resources including wildlife, recreational opportunities, aesthetics, timber, water, soil, wetlands, unique features, and cultural resources.
Close definition Return to Top - yard
- View definition see landing.
Close definition Return to Top
Note: adapted from the Maine Forest Service “Women and the Woods” program and the Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension bulletin “Forestry Terminology."