Northern hardwood stands with multiple age classes allow immediate use
of selection system to control the diameter and age-class distributio
ns. This ensures consistency in yields, ecological conditions, visual
qualities, and other values. To convert even-aged communities, landown
ers must partition the cut of upper canopy trees over many decades, re
generating a new age class with each entry. In both cases, landowners
must commit to the long-term program of deliberate management that sel
ection system requires.