Silvicultural Recommendations For The Management Of Ponderosa Pine Forest PDF Download

Ponderosa pines are the most important timber producing species in Mexico, and they also represent a major portion of the USA and Canada timber production. These pines form near pure stands with simple and stable stand structure. They suffer only occasional disturbances, and they sustain a limited capacity to hold biodiversity and other environmental services. The driving force in the stand dynamics is a need for direct light during all their lives. Most ponderosas can successfully regenerate under partial shade, but they must be released soon afterwards. Seedlings appear almost immediately after upper canopy removal, even in years of poor seed production, as long as a thin litter and duff layer forms a proper seed bed. If no such organic layer in the soil is present, leaving partial shade of 40 to 60 % from the overstory will provide protection until vigorous and uniform regeneration can close crowns. This publication was made possible by the economic support of the National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR).