Long-term Assessment of Financial Maturity, Diameter-limit Selection in the Central Appalachians

Long-term Assessment of Financial Maturity, Diameter-limit Selection in the Central Appalachians
Author: Thomas M. Schuler
Publisher:
Total Pages: 20
Release: 2007
Genre: Forest management
ISBN:

Financial maturity, diameter-limit (FMDL) selection was proposed more than three decades ago as a replacement for diameter-limit cutting. FMDL incorporates financial maturity guidelines for individual trees, high-priority removal of poor-quality trees, and guidelines for residual basal area. We provide the first long-term assessment of this practice after more than three decades of implementation. FMDL selection is evaluated in terms periodic yield of merchantable board feet, residual basal area, butt-log quality, and species composition. Recommendations for lowering the minimum residual basal area are presented. Management implications regarding controlling species composition are discussed.