Status of Intensive Plantation Forestry

Forest management in the South has intensified over the past two decades. Practices associated with intensive forest management are used more frequently and on larger areas than ever before. These practices include clearcutting, partial cutting, TSI, planting and natural regeneration, and chemical applications. Thinning and site preparation experienced smaller increases, while burning became less common. Intensified planted pine management nearly doubles yields compared to traditional management approaches. While it is more expensive than traditional management, capital budgeting analysis indicates that intensive management generates superior returns. Compared with planted pine, hardwood forests are managed less intensively in natural stands. Their management intensity is expected to increase moderately. Attractive planted pine returns and stated future forest management intentions indicate that forest management intensity in the South will continue to grow.

• Trends in the use of silvicultural practices
• Intensive management to realize growth potential
• Integrated, site-specific silviculture
• The promise of biotechnology