There may be no other forestry term that is as misunderstood and derided as "clearcutting". Done poorly, it can be extremely destructive. However, there are many situations where it can be a beneficial and efficient way of regenerating trees and other vegetation. In its most simple definition, clearcutting is the removal of all trees and most if not all vegetation from an area, leaving all growing space and resources available for the next generation.

This treatment (figure 1) obviously favors shade intolerant species and creates an even-aged stand.
If the stand is over-mature or mature, then clearcutting may be a viable option. Clearcutting mimics catastrophic natural events such as hurricane or fire. Regeneration may be achieved by artificial means (seeding or planting) or by natural regeneration. Clearcutting may be done in alternating swaths, with the remaining trees seeding the now empty areas. The areas left uncut will eventually be harvested after regeneration has been established. On rugged terrain, small patches may be cut under the same theory as the linear swaths mentioned previously.

All trees were removed from this block (figure 2) in one cutting. During the spring of 1994, numerous seedlings and other types of vegetation quickly occupied the site. In addition, many of the stumps have sprouted. The slash, or tops and branches of felled trees, provides cover for birds and small mammals, protects seedlings from deer browsing, and adds nutrients to the soil as it decomposes. A clearcut is an effective silvicultural tool for regenerating stands of shade intolerant species. It mimics the kind of disturbance (fire, hurricane, tornado) that occurs naturally. This block will change rapidly in the coming years.

In our hardwood forests, care must be exercised to make sure that naturally occurring regeneration is adequate before the cut is made. Otherwise, establishment of the new forest can be delayed significantly, and the site may become occupied by grasses and ferns or trees that do not meet the landowner's
objectives. When applied appropriately, this treatment
leads to a forest of similarly aged trees, the most abundant
being those that grow best in high levels of sunlight. The
financial returns with this treatment can be high, but the aesthetic value of the forest can be diminished until the new forest becomes established.