Access management

The designation of specific zones within a forest (often related to roads) where different types of access and activities are permitted or restricted (i.e. motorized/non-motorized)

Adaptive management

A dynamic approach to forest management in which the outcomes of treatments and decisions are monitored over time, with the results of monitoring used to modify and improve outcomes of subsequent management activities

Area-based tenure

Where holders (individuals, companies, communities) are granted the exclusive right to harvest timber from a spatially defined area of forested land

Biochar

Is a stable form of carbon produced by heating organic material such as wood residues in a low-oxygen process called pyrolysis, and is used to improve soil health, enhance water retention, and sequester carbon.

Biomass product

Organic material derived from trees, plants, and plant residues—such as trunks, branches, bark, needles, leaves, crowns, stumps, roots, logging slash, mill residues, or recycled wood—that is used to produce forest-based products including energy, biofuels, and bioproducts.

Brushing

The removal of unwanted or competing vegetation using manual (hand tools e.g., brush saws, axes, etc) or mechanical (mowers, machinery etc.), or chemical (herbicide) methods.

Carbon values

Managing forests to store carbon in living biomass, soils, and harvested wood products, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and/or generate marketable carbon credits

Clearcut system

Is a silvicultural system in which most or all trees in a defined area are harvested, creating an even-aged stand following harvest that regenerates naturally or through planting. The size of the opening that would be considered a clearcut is when 50% of the gap or less is influenced by the edge and the gap in general is greater than two mature tree heights in width or length (See Silviculture Systems Handbook)

Climate change resilience

Is the capacity of forests to withstand, adapt to, and recover from the impacts of climate change, including altered disturbance regimes, while maintaining ecosystem function, supported through adaptive management interventions.

Clumped planting

Refers to planting trees in groups or clusters rather than evenly spaced throughout a block, often used to mimic natural regeneration patterns, improved habitat or enhance microclimatic conditions

Commercial thinning

The selective harvest of canopy (merchantable) trees for their timber value, to reduce competition and improve the growth and vigour of remaining crop trees to improve future stand quality

Synonyms: Crown thinning, Thinning from above, Merchantable thinning

Community forest

An area-based tenure where local communities are granted the rights to manage and harvest timber within a specific area. This tenure aims to involve local communities in sustainable forest management

Community of practice

A group of people who engage in collective learning and knowledge-sharing around a common area of focus or topic of focus

Competition

The biotic interaction between individuals for resources such as light, water, nutrients, etc.

Conservation lands

The designation of specific areas to protect and preserve natural resources, biodiversity, ecological functions, etc.

Coppice system

An even-aged silviculture system used deciduous ecosystems, when the regeneration method is sprouting or suckers. (See Silviculture Systems Handbook)

Cultural values

The recognition of the significance of lands, waters, forests, and other natural features in supporting the traditions, practices, identity, spiritual and historical heritage, subsistence activities, and well-being of communities and cultures across generations

Cultural fire

The planned and controlled use of fire on the landscape to support cultural values. This practice, often part of Indigenous fire stewardship, can include burning to enhance the health of specific plants and animals, maintain important habitats, or support ceremonial purposes. The meaning and application of cultural fire may vary across communities.

Cultural plants

Managing vegetation that hold cultural, spiritual, or traditional significance for specific communities including food, materials, ceremonies, etc.

Dispersed cut

Removal of individual trees or scattered small clumps of trees

Dispersed reserves

Retaining individuals or scattered small clumps typically long-term (see Silviculture Systems Handbook)

Dispersed retention

Retaining individuals or scattered small clumps that can vary by objective and length of time intended to remain (see Silviculture Systems Handbook)

Ecological anchors

The use of significant ecological features (water, habitat) to spatially connect to in order to meet management objectives, i.e. connect block retention to adjacent network of retention, or maintaining known wildlife movement corridors

Ecosystem health

Maintaining ecosystem function and process e.g. by preserving key features and structures, such as biodiversity, habitats, to support resiliency

Even-aged system

Managing a forest to result in a single cohort (age class) of trees

Expert

Fertilizing

The application of nutrients to support enhanced growth of desired tree crop

First Nations woodland license

An area-based long-term tenure that grants First Nations the rights to manage and harvest forest products within a specific area

Forest health

Involves practices aimed at maintaining the vitality and resilience of forest stands e.g., pest control, disease management, and ensuring the sustainable growth and regeneration of trees to meet ecological and economic objectives

Fuel management

The modification of forest structure and forest floor biomass to reduce the potential intensity or severity of a subsequent fire

Full fiber utilization

Using many or all parts of harvested trees to feed into different forest products

Genetic worth

The value or for genetic traits to contribute to desired characteristics of trees e.g., growth rate, wood quality, disease resistance, etc.

Government action regulations (GAR)

Is the legislation that covers a range of land designations by the provincial government to protect and manage forests. These regulations guide how certain areas are managed

Grinding

Breaking down biomass into smaller pieces, typically to create a more homogenous product for fuel, mulch, etc.

Group cut

Removing trees in a small opening that is less than or equal to a maximum width of 2 tree-lengths

Group reserves

Keeping a distinct area of trees from the original stand during harvest typically long-term (see Silviculture Systems Handbook)

Group retention

Keeping a distinct area of trees from the original stand during harvest that can vary by objective and length of time intended to remain (see Silviculture Systems Handbook)

Irregular system

A silviculture system that results in two cohorts.

See Silviculture Systems Handbook

Low-value timber

Refers to wood that is harvested from trees with lower economic value

Mastication

Refers to using machinery to grind or chip vegetation like brush and small trees into small pieces. This process reduces wildfire risk and manages fuel loads

Mixed reserves

Keeping a mix of individuals and groups of trees during harvest typically long-term. See Silviculture Systems Handbook

Mixed retention

Keeping a mix of individuals and groups of trees during harvest that can vary by objective and length of time intended to remain (see Silviculture Systems Handbook)

Models

A quantitative or computational representation of a forest that can be used to forecast the growth, yield, dynamics or outcomes of management decisions under different conditions and time periods

Monitoring

Te ongoing assessment of the technical, environmental and social performance and impacts of management practices

Mulching

Involves using a machine to cut, grind, and clear vegetation, turning it into a layer of mulch that covers the ground. This helps stabilize the soil, prevent erosion, and promote the growth of native plants

Natural disturbances

Refers to the events that disrupt the structure and function of a forest stand such as wildfires, storms, insects, pathogens, droughts etc.

Non-timber forest products

Refers to products of biological origin that are derived from forests but excludes timber (e.g., foods, medicines, materials and/or commodities)

Old growth attributes

Managing forests to retain or recruit features of old forests, such as the unique structural attributes that develop over long periods of time without significant disturbance. Attributes include large/old trees, multiple canopy layers, accumulation of large dead woody material, diverse species composition, etc.

Old growth management area (OGMA)

Areas designated during landscape-level planning to protect current or potential old growth forests and characteristics

Patch cut

A harvest where the width of the opening is more than 2 tree lengths, but 50% or more of the opening is within a tree-length to the edge. See Silviculture Systems Handbook

Plywood

A manufactured wood product made by gluing together thin sheets of veneer, which are typically derived from logs selected specifically for this purpose.

Pellet production

Refers to the form of biofuel (forest product) made from compressed (technique) organic matter e.g., sawdust and other wood residues

Prescribed fire

The planned and intentional use of fire to achieve different objectives

Pruning

A silviculture technique used to selectives remove branches from trees to improve timber quality, promote healthy growth, reduce defects, and enhance stand structure

Pulp

Fibrous material obtained from wood through mechanical or chemical processes and used to produce paper, cardboard, fiberboard, textiles, and other related products

Reforestation

The process of reestablishing trees in areas that have been affected by disturbance

Restoration

Is the assisted recovery of functional or ecological processes that have been damaged, destroyed or degraded. This can include afforestation, rehabilitation, or ecological restoration.

Retention system

A silviculture system with a high proportion of retained trees that are harvested in a way to maintain more than 50% of the opening less than 2 tree-lengths away from the edge throughout rotation.

Salvage

The removal of timber following a disturbance event (fire, insect, wind)

Seed tree system

A silviculture system that retains overstory trees to naturally regenerate the stand post-harvest

Selection system

A silviculture system that targets multiple sizes or ages of trees and results in a multi-aged stand post-harvest. See Silviculture Systems Handbook

Sensitive waters

The management of areas that are particularly vulnerable to sedimentation or pollution. These areas often include streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands to maintain water quality and ecosystem health and are managed under provincial General Actions Regulation (GAR).

Shelterwood system

A silviculture system where the original stand is removed, and the trees retained are used to shelter the regenerating understory. Once the retained trees no longer require protection, the overstory can be removed

Silvics

The study of the characteristics, growth, and behavior of tree species in relation to their environment, including physiological tolerances, regeneration strategies, competition, successional role, and responses to disturbances

Single tree cut

The removal of individual tree stems in a harvest (not in clumps or gaps)

Site preparation

Is a silviculture activity used to overcome site or soil limitations for the regenerating stand. This could include methods to improve soil temperature, nutrient availability, soil drainage, and aeration, or reducing competition. It typically involves manipulating surface soil, woody material (e.g. coarse woody debris), organic material or nutrients

Spacing

The selective removal of non-merchantable trees in a young stand to improve growth, health and future quality

Synonyms: Pre-commercial thinning, Thinning from below, Juvenile thinning, Juvenile spacing

Stand tending

Captures a range of silviculture activities following harvest, site preparation and reforestation. This can be applied more broadly and could be synonymous with stand intervention, but here we capture all the activities that occur in an established forest to change the stand development pathway (i.e. brushing, spacing, fertilizing, pruning, and thinning in multiple forms).

Synonyms: Stand interventions

Strip cut

Harvesting trees in gaps that are linear (or longer than wide)

Structure

The arrangement, density and proportion of trees within a forest stand, including size, age, species and vertical and horizontal layers

Synonyms: Size class distribution

Variable density thinning

The selective removal of trees within a forest stand to improve the growth conditions for the remaining trees. The primary objectives of thinning are to reduce competition for light, water, and nutrients, increase the growth rate and health of the remaining trees, and improve the overall stand structure

Timber

The economic value of trees or harvested wood

Tree farm license

Is an area-based tenure that grants the license holder virtually exclusive rights to harvest and manage forest resources within a specified area

Ungulate winter range (UWR)

Managing forests, or areas within a forest under a Government Action Regulations (GAR) that are important winter habitat for ungulate species

Uniform cut

Harvest occurs consistently throughout the stand. Gaps created during harvest are small and indistinct

Variable density thinning

Is a method of removing different amounts (intensities) of trees throughout a stand to produce a variety of openings and gap sizes to increase complexity or heterogeneity. See Silviculture Systems Handbook

Variable retention

This approach encompasses many silvicultural systems, but highlights retaining structures and features of the pre-harvest stand through to the next rotation. While it can include clearcut systems, the use of variable retention in the context of innovative silviculture restricts the concept to silviculture systems with higher retention (> 50 % of the area of cut is within a tree-length of an edge).

Synonyms: Partial harvest, Partial cutting, Partial retention.

See SIPtionary for more details

Veneer

Refers to thin sheets of wood that are peeled or sliced from logs to be used in production of plywood, furniture, laminates, etc.

Visuals (VQO)

Are managed to reduce the impact of harvested areas on the scenic quality of landscapes. These are often managed in areas with high tourism values

Volume-based tenure

Where the rights to harvest a specified volume of timber are granted to individuals, companies, or organizations within a specified area (i.e. timber supply area). Volume-based tenure can allow multiple licensees to operate within the same area where each is required to harvest their allocated timber volume

Waste management

The process of collecting, handling, and disposing of leftover woody material and debris, such as treetops, limbs, and stumps, following harvest

Wildfire risk

Involves managing the potential loss of values (forests, communities, and resources) to wildfire. It includes the likelihood of a wildfire starting, the intensity and spread of the fire, and the potential impacts on people, property, and the environment.

Wildland urban interface (WUI)

Is an area where developments such as building and infrastructure overlap forest fuel (vegetation)

Wildlife habitat area (WHA)

Managing forests, or areas within a forest under a Government Action Regulations (GAR) that are important for the conservation of wildlife species and habitats. WHAs designate habitats in which activities are managed to limit their impact on regional, or otherwise significant wildlife species for which the area was established

Wildlife habitat features

The management of specific, small-scale habitat elements crucial for the survival and well-being of specific wildlife species. Often focuses on particular structures or conditions within a forest that provide essential resources/conditions for wildlife this is managed under GAR

Wildlife management area (WMA)

The designation and management of specific areas to conserve and protect wildlife species and habitats under the Wildlife Act managed by the provincial government

Woodlot

Is an area-based tenure where individuals, families, or small organizations are granted rights to manage and harvest timber on a designated area