Wood Classifications

Forest stage
Type Description
Primary forest Unused forest that is still in its original state, or has recovered to a comparable state.
Regrowth forest Phase in the forest cycle until mature (rotation cycle* period)
Mature forest Forest is in a state that allows the next harvest of wood
*The rotation cycle is a property of the forest management type

Forestry type
Type Description
None No management applied, i.e. primary forest
Clear-cut Forest used for wood production in consecutive cycles of complete cutting of a forest area and subsequent regrowth. Regeneration may be assisted and can include thinning, but without major further management to improve growth. The area of clear-cut forest keeps a designation as forest. If the forest is converted to other land-uses, e.g. agricultural area, the area is considered to be deforested.
Selective cut Forests that are used for wood production by selectively harvesting a few individual trees. This is mainly practiced in tropical forests that, due to their heterogeneous nature, often have only few individual of commercial species per ha. Although usually only 4-10 trees per ha are harvested, damage to the remaining stand may be considerable, potentially leading to degradation of the forest stand.
Wood plantations Planted forests where management is optimized for efficient wood production with shorter rotation cycles.

Wood products
Type Description
Pulpwood (short lifetime) Wood used for production of pulp and fibers that are used in paper industries.
Round wood (long lifetime) Sawlogs and veneer. Wood produced for application in timber industries (mostly building and construction material) and joinery.
Fuel wood Wood produced for (domestic) energy purposes, either direct or first processed to charcoal.
Top