Hardwood Silviculture

Silviculture is the art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forest vegetation.

Although silviculture is often associated with the management of timber resources, today, the practice of silviculture is a critical component of meeting current resource management objectives.

Silviculture is key to managing forests for a wide variety of ecosystem services, including water quality and quantity, wildlife habitat quality and quantity, aesthetics, recreation, resistance and resilience to disturbance, including climate change, carbon storage and sequestration, as well as product. Silviculture is a key component of research in the upland hardwood forest ecosystem.

Following are current areas of research in hardwood silviculture being conducted by scientists within the Upland Hardwood Ecology and Management Research Work Unit 4157.

Hardwood Silviculture Research Topics: