TOWARD INTEGRATED FOREST VEGETATION MANAGEMENT

Unlike the clearly visible damage produced by most insect and disease pests, damage to desired trees from surrounding vegetation is not ofte n apparent. It results primarily in lost stand development potential. Vegetation management used throughout the life of a stand not only red uces this damage but also provides one of the best opportunities to in fluence the composition, growth, and form of developing stands. Many r egeneration efforts in North American forests would fail or be severel y delayed without it (Walstad and Kuch 1987).