Stand Density Management Charts for Eastern Spruce-Fir Forests
| Authors: | Jenna Zukswert, Laura S. Kenefic |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Type: | Miscellaneous Publication |
| Station: | Northern Research Station |
| Source: | FS |
Abstract
Eastern spruce-fir forests, characterized by red spruce (Picea rubens) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea), cover millions of acres in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. Many spruce-fir forests are managed for wood production and wildlife habitat. To best manage these forests for the resources they provide, it is important to determine the stocking, that is, the size and number of trees in a given stand. The stocking provides different levels of growth and canopy closure, which informs managers when and how to thin the stand.
Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station collaborated with partners at the University of Maine and Humboldt University to produce updated stand density management charts for eastern spruce-fir forests. The new decision-support tools provide updated guidance, and results from their use suggest that these forests can maintain a much higher stocking level than was previously recognized.