CLEARCUTTING - A REGENERATION METHOD IN THE BOREAL FOREST

Clearcutting is a method of regenerating an even-aged stand in which a new age class develops in a fully exposed microclimate after a single cutting of all trees in the previous stand. It is a common regenerati on method used throughout the boreal forest of North America The ecolo gical basis for reliance on this method of regenerating forest stands is examined, including considerations for specific tree species, for s tands, and increasingly more important, for forest ecosystems. Despite past success and continued reliance on this method of regeneration in the boreal forest, alternative regeneration methods are proving to be equally feasible.