Select Tree Harvest
Source: PEI Ecosystem-Based Forest Management Standards Manual (October 2025), pp. 22–23
What it is
Select tree harvest removes individual trees from a pole-stage or older stand, in several passes over time. It is the core uneven-aged management tool. It can:
- harvest mature and over-mature trees (or specific undesirable trees, as the prescription requires),
- build vertical structure — several age and height layers,
- open crown space for the trees that remain,
- create micro-habitat for natural regeneration, and coarse woody debris.
It is one of the harvests allowed in a voluntarily extended riparian management zone.
Eligibility
- Over 75% of the stand has reached pole stage or beyond.
- The stand is normally well rooted and windfirm, with little existing windthrow. The exception is a stand managed mainly to speed the height growth of tolerant planted seedlings.
- The remaining stand is harvested over a long period — the manual gives 20 years as an example. This builds vertical structure and, if needed, shifts the stand from shade-intolerant to shade-tolerant species (see Shade Tolerance Chart).
Standards and assessment
| Measure | Standard |
|---|---|
| Removal cap | No more than 10% of the merchantable basal area per year |
| Residual stand | Average live crown ratio at least 30%; appears windfirm |
| Monitoring | A qualified forestry professional monitors every intervention |
| Distribution | Spread the first cuts as evenly as possible through the stand |
| Damage limit | No more than 5% of remaining trees damaged; damage means broken limbs and/or bark damage exposing more than 10 cm² of sapwood on a tree |
Which trees to take first: injured trees, trees with reduced live crown ratios, less windfirm trees, and trees over patches of advanced regeneration.
Based on the PEI Ecosystem-Based Forest Management Standards Manual (October 2025), pp. 22–23. Where this guide and the manual differ, the manual governs.