ABSTRACT

In natural ecosystems, self-pruning is a balancing act as low light increases natural pruning, but decreases regeneration. Along with site modification, planting, thinning and weeding are all management activities that can be done expensively by hand or, if an ecosystem is well formulated, are a free service provided by nature. In some natural ecosystems, populations of wild animals eat up to 80% of the biomass. Fire is beneficial tool, both in stand management and in overseeing larger ecosystems. From a wider perspective, any species, trees included, that can occupy unused niches, coexist with the primary species, and block weeds, can serve as a cover crop. In addition to weed removal, fire can change the composition of the understory and future ecosystem. Where trees ecologically befit a site, planting methods may be more in response to economic need; planting costs, available machinery and rotation period.