%0 Research article
%T Economic and ecological effects of diameter-limit and BDq management regimes: simulation results for northern hardwoods
%A Buongiorno, Joseph
%A Kolbe, Audra
%A Vasievich, Mike
%D 2000
%J Silva Fennica
%V 34
%N 3
%R doi:10.14214/sf.627
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/627
%X The long-term financial and ecological effects of diameter-limit regimes  and basal-area-diameter-q-ratio (BDq) regimes were compared by  simulation in the case of northern hardwood forests. Varying the cutting  cycle between 10 and 20 years had little effect on returns or stand  structure. A 28-cm diameter-limit cut gave the highest production and  financial returns, and the highest species diversity, but considerably  lower size diversity. A 38-cm diameter-limit cut and a heavy BDq  selection harvest gave high returns, while maintaining high levels of  diversity. On lands of equal site quality, Michigan’s stands were more  productive than Wisconsin’s. The results suggest that it is possible to  manage northern hardwood stands sustainably with diameter-limit cuts,  combined with removal of poorly performing understory trees. Adjusting  the diameter limit gave rise to stands similar in productivity and  structure to those obtained by BDq cutting regimes. Given their  simplicity of implementation and monitoring, more attention should be  given to diameter-limit cutting regimes, with attendant stand  improvement measures, as a practical means for uneven-aged management of  northern hardwoods.