Tree quality and value: results in northern conifer stands after 65 years of silviculture and harvest

Despite the importance of financial outcomes to stand-level forest management decision-making, long-term assessments are rare. We compared quality and value mixed, northern conifer (Picea–Abies–Tsuga) stands in Maine, USA, treated with a range silvicultural systems exploitive cuttings for 65 years. Ten replicated treatments — single-tree selection uniform shelterwood systems, commercial clearcutting, fixed guiding diameter-limit cutting, no cutting were assessed standing harvested trees. Selection resulted good tree high stand value, particularly when applied on short cycle, but small harvest volumes not always commercially operable. Shelterwood system quality, changes species values over time influenced outcomes. In contrast, clearcutting poor low residual after multiple harvests. Guiding is more appropriately characterized as than harvesting volume limits seed retention. Overall, focused short-term gain led degraded conditions, while those that sought grow high-quality trees desirable long term.