Written by Bill Stewart, Univeristy of California Berkeley
Timber production is the primary source of revenue from private timberlands in the United States, Europe, and Oceania. Sawlogs are the most valuable product, but it takes decades to grow these larger diameter trees. Thinnings of smaller trees that can be utilized to make pulp and paper products or for energy are typically harvested to generate revenue while the remaining trees are growing larger, to shift more resources to the remaining trees, …