Absentee Landowners
Landowners who do not live in the county in which their land is located.
Acid Soils
Soils with a pH value below 7.0. Pines grow well in acid soils, but hardwoods do not.
Acre
An area of land containing 43,560 square feet or 10 square chains. A square acre would be about 209 feet by 209 feet. A circular acre would have a radius of 117.75 feet.
Ad Valorem Tax
Annual taxes assessed on the basis of land value.
Aesthetics
The pleasurable sensations, mental and physical, which humans may experience as a result of certain environmental resources.
All-aged Stand
A forest stand with trees of different ages and sizes. All-aged or uneven-aged contrasts with "even-aged."
All-aged or Uneven-aged Management
Managing a forest by periodically removing individual trees or groups of trees from the stand while preserving its natural appearance. This type of management is common in hardwood forests. See selection method and all-aged stand.
Allowable Cut
The volume of wood that can be cut from a forest during a given period without exceeding the forest's net growth during that same time period.
Artificial Regeneration
Establishing a new forest by planting or direct seeding.
Basal Area
Of a tree: the cross-sectional area (in square feet) of the trunk at breast height (4 1/2 feet above the ground). For example, the basal area of a tree 14 inches in diameter at breast height is about 1 square foot. Basal area = 0.005454 times diameter squared.
Of an acre of forest: the sum of basal areas of the individual trees on the area. For example, a well stocked pine stand might contain 80 to 120 square feet of basal area per acre.
Board Foot
A unit of wood equaling 144 cubic inches. The term is commonly used to measure and express the amount of wood in trees, sawlogs, veneer logs, or lumber. Board feet in a piece of wood is determined by [length in feet x width in inches x thickness in inches] divided by 12.
Bole
The main trunk of a tree.
Bolt
A short log or section cut from a log less than 8 feet long. A pulpwood bolt measures 5 feet 3 inches.
Breast Height
4 1/2 feet above ground level. See diameter breast height (DBH).
Browse
Leaves, buds, and twigs of shrubs and trees which are eaten by wildlife.
Buffer
A designated zone or strip of land of a specified width along the border of an area. Buffer strips of standing trees may be used to shield an area from view, or buffer strips of felled trees may be used to prevent the spread of forest pests.
Cambium Layer
A thin layer of cells between the inner bark and the woody part of a tree. The cambium is responsible for diameter growth of trees.
Canopy
The layer of tree crowns in a forest.
Chain
A unit of measure used by foresters and surveyors. 1 chain = 66 ft.; 10 sq. chains = 1 acre.
Clearcut
A harvesting and regeneration method which removes all the trees (regardless of size) on an area. Clearcutting is most used with species like pine which require full sunlight to reproduce and grow well. Clearcutting produces an even-aged forest stand.
Climax Forest
The final stage of plant succession in which species composition remains relatively stable.
Codominant
Trees with medium-sized crowns forming the general level of the crown cover. They receive full light from above but are crowded on the sides and thus receive comparatively little light from the sides.
Competition
The struggle among adjacent trees for growth requirements such as sunlight, nutrients, water, and growing space. Competition goes on among both the roots and crowns of trees in the same stand.
Cone
The fruit of the tree in the pine family with overlapping scales containing several seeds.
Conifer
Trees of the pine family with needlelike or scalelike foliage and conelike fruits. They are usually evergreen and often are called softwoods.
Conservation
The protection, improvement, and wise use of natural resources to provide the greatest social and economic value for the present and future.
Controlled Burning
See prescribed burning.
Coppice
A forest stand originating primarily from sprouts; the coppice method refers to the way these forests are regenerated.
Cord
A stack of round or split wood containing 128 cubic feet including wood, bark, and air space. A standard cord measures 4 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet. A face cord or short cord is 4 feet by 8 feet of any length wood less than 4 feet.
Crop Tree
A tree identified to be grown to maturity and for final harvest cut. It is usually selected on the basis of its location to other trees and its quality and species.
Crown
The branches and foliage of a tree.
Cruise
A survey of forestland to locate timber and estimate its quantity by species, products, size, quality, or other characteristics; the estimate obtained in such a survey. Several different sampling techniques can be used in a cruise.
Cubic Foot
A wood volume measurement containing 1,728 cubic inches, such as a piece of wood measuring 1 foot on a side. A cubic foot of wood contains about 6 to 10 usable board feet of lumber rather than 12 board feet because some wood is lost as sawdust and shavings during processing.
Cull
A tree or log of merchantable size made useless for all but firewood because of shape, disease, insect infestation, or injury.
Cunit
A pulpwood measurement meaning 100 cubic feet of solid wood.
Cutting Cycle
The planned time interval between major harvesting operations in the same stand, usually in uneven-aged stands. For example, a cutting cycle of 10 years in a hardwood stand means a harvest every 10 years.
Cut-over-land
Land that has been logged and the most desirable trees have been harvested.
Cutting Contract
A written, legally binding document used to accomplish the sale of standing timber. The contract specifies various provisions covering the expectations and desires of both the buyer and seller.
DBH
Abbreviation for tree diameter at breast height. (4 1/2 feet above the ground). DBH is usually measured in inches.
Deciduous Tree
A tree which loses all its leaves at some time during the year. These are primarily hardwoods such as oak, hickory, ash, sweetgum, but magnolia and American holly are evergreen hardwoods.
Deck, log
A pile of logs ready for loading onto a transport vehicle.
Defect
That portion of a tree or log unusable for the intended product and, therefore, not measured. Defects include such things as rot, crookedness, cavities, excessive number of limbs, etc.
Delivered Price
Price per cord or thousand board feet at the first point of concentration or the wood yard. Price includes expenses of labor, transportation, and cost of standing trees.
Dendrology
The study of the identification, habits, and distribution of trees.
Diameter
The length of a straight line passing through the center of a tree or a portion of a tree. Tree diameter is usually measured 4 1/2 feet above ground level (see DBH), but log diameter is measured at the small end.
Diameter Limit Cutting
A selection method of harvesting whereby all merchantable trees above a specified diameter are harvested. In some cases minimum diameter may be the stump diameter. This cutting method is a form of high grading and is not recommended for hardwood stands. It should be used only in certain situations for pine.
DIB (or d.i.b.)
Abbreviation for diameter inside the bark. It usually refers to the scaling diameter (the diameter inside the bark of the small end) of a log rather than a standing tree.
Dibble (bar)
Also called a planting bar. A tool for hand planting bare-rooted seedlings. About 4 1/2 feet in length with a 10-inch blade.
Direct Seeding
A method of artificial regeneration whereby tree seeds are sown on the surface of a prepared site.
DOB (or d.o.b.)
Abbreviation for diameter outside the bark. Used in estimating a standing tree's volume. For example, when counting the number of 16-foot sawlogs in a standing tree, the cruiser knows the merchantability limit is 6 inches d.o.b. (or 4 inches, or 8 inches).
Dominant Tree
Having a crown extending above the general level of the crown cover and receiving full light from above and partly from the side; larger than the average trees in the stand, with well developed crown but possibly somewhat crowded on the sides.
Easement
An interest or right to limited use of land granted by the owner to another party.
Ecology
The branch of science dealing with the interrelationships of plants and animals to their environment.
Entomology, Forest
The science that deals with insects in their relation to forests and forest products.
Environment
The existing condition of the surroundings that results from a combination of climate, soil, topography, and other plants and animals. An organism's environment influences its form and survival.
Even-aged Forest
A forest of trees which are about the same age (usually within 10 years). An even-aged forest may be a natural or an artificially regenerated stand.
Even-aged Forest Management
Forest management with periodic harvesting of all trees on part of the forest at one time or in several cuttings over a short time to produce stands containing trees all the same or nearly the same age. This type of management is commonly applied to conifers and to some hardwoods.
Evergreen Tree
A tree which retains some or all of its leaves throughout the year.
F.I.P. (Forest Incentives Program)
A federal cost sharing program from the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) which provides payments to landowners who complete certain approved forest management practices such as tree site preparation and planting.
Firebreak or Fire lane
A natural or man-made barrier usually created by the removal of brush, trees, leaves, and other vegetation. Used to prevent the spread of fire.
Fire Danger Rating
Numerical classification of the measurement of weather and fuel factors. Result is an indication of how readily a fire will ignite and an indication of fire behavior (spread intensity) after it starts. Classification is from 1 to 5; 1 = low and 5 = high.
Forest
A plant community dominated by trees and woody plants. From a management standpoint, a forest is a collection of stands administered as a unit.
Forestland
Land which is currently producing (or, in some cases, capable of producing) a forest.
Forest Management
Giving the forest proper care so it stays healthy and vigorous and provides the products and values the landowner desires.
Technical definition: Applying technical forestry principles and practices and business techniques (such as accounting, benefit-cost analysis, etc.) to forest management.
Forest Management Plan
Usually a written document which includes overall guidelines and recommended practices for current and future management to meet the owner's objectives.
Forest Type
Groups of tree species commonly found growing in the same stand because their environmental requirements are similar. Some examples of Southern forest types include oak-hickory type, longleaf-slash pine type, elm-ash-cottonwood type, and oak-gum-cypress type.
Forestry
The science, art, and practice of managing and using trees, forests, and their associated resources for human benefit.
Girdling
A man-made cut or animal, insect, or disease damage completely encircling the tree trunk, going through the bark and cambium, and penetrating the sapwood. Girdling usually kills the tree by stopping the flow of nutrients between the roots and crown.
Grading
Evaluating and sorting trees, logs, or lumber according to quality.
Growing Stock
All live trees (excluding culls) in a forest or stand, including sawtimber, pole timber, saplings, and seedlings.
Habitat
The natural environment of a specific plant or animal. An area containing all the necessary resources for the plant or animal to live, grow, and reproduce.
Hardwood
A term describing broadleaf, usually deciduous, trees such as oaks, maples, ashes, elms, etc. The term does not necessarily refer to the hardness of the wood. Some hardwoods (such as live oak and American holly) are evergreen.
Harvest
In general use, removing some or all the trees on an area.
  Technical definition: Removing trees on an area to obtain income, develop the environment necessary to regenerate the forest, and on occasion, achieve some special objectives such as the development of special wildlife habitat needs.
Harvesting Methods
See clear-cut, seed tree method, selection method, and shelterwood harvest.
Height, Breast
See DBH
Height, Merchantable
Refers to the height (length) of a usable tree trunk. It is measured up to the point on the trunk where the diameter is too small to obtain a particular product. The product being cut determines the merchantable height. For example, if the minimum usable diameter of a pulpwood stick is 4 inches, the merchantable height of a pine tree would be its height up to a trunk diameter of 4 inches, inside or outside the bark.
Height, Total
Tree height from ground level to the top of the crown (i.e.: the tip of the terminal bud).
Herbicides
Chemicals formulated to kill plants.
High Grading
The practice of removing only the biggest and best trees from a stand during a harvest operation and leaving only the poorest, lowest quality culls to dominate the site.
Improvement Cut
A type of intermediate cut with the primary objective of improving the remaining stand. See TSI and intermediate cut.
Increment Borer
A hollow auger-like instrument used to bore into the tree trunk to remove a wood core which shows the tree's growth rings.
Intermediate Cut
Removing immature trees from the forest sometime between reproduction and maturity to improve the quality of the remaining forest stand. An intermediate cut may or may not generate income (see thinning).
Intermediate Trees
Trees shorter than dominant and codominant trees but with crowns extending into the crown cover formed by the dominant and codominant trees. These trees receive little light from above and none from the sides. They usually have small crowns considerably crowded on the sides.
Inventory
See cruise.
Log
A piece of the woody stem (trunk or limb) of a tree, The trunk portion of a tree, or in the East, a tree section exactly 16.3 feet in length, including trim allowance.
Logger
-An individual whose occupation is harvesting timber. He usually is in business for himself, owns his own equipment, and has one or more employees.
Logging
The practice of harvesting timber.
Lop
To chop or saw branches, tops, or small trees after felling, leaving the slash on the ground.
Log Rule
A table that gives the board foot contents for logs of various diameters and lengths. Other rule tables include the "1/4-International" and "Scribner". The Doyle Rule is used most frequently.
Log Yard
See yard.
Management
See forest management.
Market
See timber market.
Marketing
See timber marketing.
Marking
See timber marking.
Mature Tree
A tree that has reached the desired size or age for its intended use. Size or age will vary depending on the species and intended use.
MBF
Thousand board feet. A unit of measure for tree volume or sawed lumber.
Mensuration
Traditionally, that phase of forestry dealing with the measurement of present and future volume, growth, and development of individual trees and stands and their timber products; also measurement of forestlands.
Merchandising
The practice of selling and using timber for the highest value product possible.
Merchantable Height
See height, merchantable.
Merchantable Timber
A stand in which trees are of sufficient size and volume per acre to provide a commercial cut.
Mill Sale
See sale, mill.
Mill Scale
See scale, mill.
Mineral Rights
The ownership of minerals (coal, oil, gas, etc.) under a given surface and the legal right to enter that area and mine and remove them. Includes the right to use as much of the land surface as may be reasonably necessary for the conduct of mining operations.
Mortality
The number of or volume of growing stock trees dying from natural causes during a certain period of time.
Multiple Use
Land management for more than one purpose, such as wood production, water, wildlife, recreation, forage, aesthetics, or clean air.
Natural Stand
A stand of trees resulting from natural seed fall or sprouting.
National Forests
Public lands administered and managed by the U.S. Forest Service. These are dedicated to the long-term benefit of present and future generations.
Net Growth
The net increase in volume of timber for a certain area of land for a certain period of time. This includes the gross increase in volume of trees from beginning to end of the time period, plus the volume of trees which become merchantable during the period, minus the volume of trees which die or become rough or rotten.
Overstory
Upper canopy layer
Overtopped Trees
Suppressed trees. These trees have crowns entirely below the general level of the crown cover and receive no direct light either from above or from the sides.
Pathology, Forest
The science that deals with diseases of forest trees, stands, and products.
Pesticides
A collective term meaning chemicals, including herbicides, insecticides, and silvicides, which are used to kill pests such as weeds, insects, unwanted trees, etc.
Photogrammetry
The science of making reliable measurements by the use of aerial photographs.
Phytocides
See herbicides.
Plantation
An artificially forested area established by planting or direct seeding. It is usually made up of a single species.
Pole Timber
Trees whose diameters range from 8 -12 inches to about 4 inches and are straight and tall.
Precommercial Thinning
See thinning.
Prescribed Burn (or fire)
The controlled use of fire to achieve forest management objectives. Prescribed fire can be used to reduce hazardous fuel levels, to control unwanted vegetation, improve visibility, and improve wildlife habitat.
Prescription, Stand
Usually a document written by a forester prescribing present and future treatments for a forest stand (smallest unit of management) aimed at accomplishing certain forest management objectives and long-term goals.
Preservation
As applied to wood, treating wood products with chemicals to prevent damage by insects or decay organisms.
With respect to land, maintaining a natural environment undisturbed by human influence or activities.
Pruning
Removing live or dead branches from standing trees. With forest trees, pruning is generally done along the trunk to remove the side branches (which cause knots in the wood) to produce a higher quality wood (knot free). Some natural self-pruning occurs as lower limbs are shaded out by the forest canopy.
Pulpwood
Wood cut primarily to be converted into wood pulp for the manufacture of paper, fiberboard, or other wood fiber products. Pulpwood size trees are usually a minimum of 4 inches DBH.
Reforestation
Reestablishing a forest by planting or seeding an area where forest vegetation has been removed.
Regeneration
See reproduction.
Regeneration Cut
A cutting operation to remove the old trees and leave environmental conditions favorable for establishment of reproduction.
Release Cutting
Cutting made to regulate the species composition and improve the quality of very young stands.
Remote Sensing
A means of acquiring information using airborne equipment and techniques to determine the characteristics of an area. Aerial photographs from aircraft and satellite are the most common form of remote sensing.
Reproduction
Young trees which will grow to become the older trees of the future forest.
The process of forest replacement or renewal. This may be done artificially by planting seedlings or seed or naturally by sprouting or natural seeding.
Right-of-way
The legal right of passage over another person's land. This is important in timber harvesting operations when access is limited.
Roots
That portion of the tree generally underground and which functions in nutrient absorption, anchorage, and storage of food and waste products.
Rotation
The number of years required to establish and grow trees to a specified size, product, or condition of maturity.
Roundwood
Wood products which are round such as pulpwood, posts, piling, poles, firewood, and timber.
Salvage Cut
Harvesting dead trees or those in danger of being killed (by insect, disease, flooding, etc.) to save their economic value.
Sampling
Taking detailed measurements of selected small parts of a forest in order to gain information about the whole forest.
Sanitation Cut
Harvesting or killing trees infected or highly susceptible to insects or diseases to protect the rest of the forest stand.
Sapling
A small tree, usually between 2 and 4 inches DBH.
Sawlog
A log large enough to be cut into lumber, usually at least 10 to 12 inches in diameter.
Sawtimber Stand
A group of trees with individual trees large enough to be sawed into lumber.
Sale, Log
The sale of sawlogs or sawtimber site trees.
Sale Area
The land area which contains the trees that are to be sold; the area that will be affected by the harvesting operations.
Sale, Lump Sum
A specified volume of standing trees sold for a cash price prior to cutting. The trees may be marked or tallied or the whole tract cruised and the volume computed.
Sale, Mill
Sale paying the landowner for the volume of lumber produced at the sawmill.
Scale, Log
The volume of roundwood products such as logs expressed in board feet, cubic feet, etc.
Scale, Mill
The volume of sawed wood products such as lumber. Sometimes called mill tally.
Scale Stick
A flat stick, similar to a yardstick, calibrated so that the log volume can be read directly when the stick is placed on the small end of a log of known length.
Second Growth
Forests that reproduce naturally after removal of the original forest by cutting, fire, or other cause.
Section
A legal unit of land containing 640 acres; one square mile or 16-forties.
Seed Tree Harvest
Removing all trees from the harvest area at one time except for a few scattered trees left to provide seed to establish a new forest stand.
Seedling
A tree, usually less than 2 inches in DBH, which has grown from a seed (in contrast to a sprout). 
A nursery grown tree which has not been lifted and replanted in the nursery (see transplant).
Seed Year
A year in which a given species produces (over a considerable area) a large seed crop. Some species of trees have irregular or infrequent seed production.
Selection Harvest
Harvesting individual trees or small groups of trees based on their physical condition or degree of maturity. This produces an uneven-aged stand. Trees are usually marked and tallied.
Severance Tax
A tax on forest products after they are cut. It is usually paid by the first processor. In many states, standing timber is not taxed for ad valorem purposes until it is cut.
Shade Tolerance
A tree's capacity to develop and grow in the shade of, and in competition with, other trees.
Shelterwood Harvest
Removing trees on the harvest area in a series of two or more cuttings so new seedlings can become established from the seed of older trees. This method produces an even-aged forest.
Shrub
A low growing perennial plant with a woody stem and a low branching habit.
Silviculture
The art, science, and practice of establishing, tending, and reproducing forest stands of desired characteristics. It is based on knowledge of species characteristics and environmental requirements.
Site
A tract of land with reasonably uniform soil and climatic factors. 
An area with the capacity to produce a particular forest or other vegetation because of biological, climatic, and soil factors.
Site Index
A measure of forest site quality based on the height (in feet) of the dominant trees at a specified age (usually 50 years for natural stands and 25 for planted stands). A site index of 95 means that the expected height of the dominant trees at an index age of 50 years would be 95 feet on a particular area of land. The higher the site index the better.
Site Preparation
Preparing an area of land for planting, direct seeding, or natural reproduction by clearing, chemical vegetation control, burning, disking, bedding, windrowing, or raking.
Skidding
Pulling logs by machine or animal from the stump to the skidway, landing, or mill.
Slash
Tree tops, branches, bark, or other residue left on the ground after logging, pruning, or other forest operations.
Softwoods
A tree belonging to the order Coniferales, usually evergreen, cone bearing, and with needles or scalelike leaves such as pine, spruces, firs, and cedars.
Soil Texture
The "feel" or composition of a soil based on the proportion of sand, silt, and clay in the soil.
Species
A group of related organisms having common characteristics; organisms capable of interbreeding and biologically classified into the same category. Loblolly pine and slash pine are the common names of two different species.
Sprout
A tree growing from the base, stump, or root of another tree.
Stands, Timber
Fully stocked
A forest stand with all the growing space effectively occupied but having ample room for the developing crop trees.
Overstocked
Overcrowding in a stand leading to retarded growth.
Understocked
A stand with the growing space not effectively occupied by crop trees
Mixed stand
A stand having less than 75 percent of the trees of a single species in the main crown canopy.
Pure stand
A stand with at least 75 percent of the trees of a single species in the main crown canopy.
Pole timber stand
A stand where most trees are from 5 to 10 inches in diameter.
Sawtimber stand
A stand where most trees are large enough in diameter (usually 10 to 12 inches DBH or larger) to be sawed into lumber.
Residual stand
The stand remaining after cutting.
Old field stand
A stand on land once used for agricultural crops or for pasture.
Stocking
The number of trees in a forest stand. Often, stocking level is compared to the desirable number of trees for best growth and management, such as partially stocked, well stocked, or over stocked.
Stumpage
The value or volume of a tree or group of trees as they stand in the woods uncut (on-the-stump).
Succession
The replacement of one plant community by another until ecological stability (climax forest) is achieved. For example, an abandoned farm, if left to nature, would gradually go through different states of vegetative cover and finally reach the climax forest stage after 100 or more years.
Sucker
See sprout.
Suppressed
See overtopped trees.
Sustained Yield
Management of forestland to produce a relatively constant amount of timber and/or revenue.
Tally
To keep a record of selected forest or tree measurements. It usually refers to the recording of certain tree measurements such as height and diameter or number of trees.
Timber
Live trees capable of being used for wood products. 
A large, dressed piece of lumber used in forming part of a structure such as bridge timber.
Timber Market
A term used to refer to the price of timber, the demand for timber, and the supply of timber.
Timber Marketing
Activities aimed at getting a satisfactory price for timber.
Timber Marking
The process of designating trees to be cut or trees not to be cut. This is usually done by spraying a spot of brightly colored paint at the base of the tree and another spot at eye level.
Timber Sale
Activities dealing with the exchange of timber for money.
TSI (Timber Stand Improvement)
Improving the quality of a forest stand by removing cull trees and brush, leaving a stand of good quality trees. Cull trees may be removed by chemicals, fire, girdling, or cutting.
Thinning
Generally a cutting performed on an immature stand to reduce the number of trees per acre. Hopefully, the remaining trees will grow faster and produce higher quality wood.
Tolerance
See shade tolerance.
Topography
The physical and natural features of an area of land. It usually refers to the elevation, slope, and configuration of the surface of the area.
Tract
A parcel of land considered separately from adjoining land because of differences in ownership, timber type, management objective, or other characteristics.
Transplant
A seedling lifted from the seedbed and replanted at least once in the nursery.
Tree
A woody plant having a well-defined stem, a more or less definitely formed crown, and usually a height of at least 10 feet.
Tree Farm
A privately owned forest (woodland) in which producing timber crops is a major management goal. Additionally, it may be recognized as a "Tree Farm" by the American Tree Farm System, an organization sponsored by the American Forest Institute, Washington, D.C.
Tree Injectors
Tools or equipment specially designed to inject chemicals into a tree trunk. Most common injectors can be hand operated by an individual.
Understory
Lower canopy layer
Uneven-aged Forest
A forest with many ages of trees present (technically, more than two age classes) and considerable differences in the ages.
Uneven-aged Forest Management
See all-aged forest management.
Volume Table
A table estimating the volume of wood in a standing tree based on measurements of the tree. It is most commonly based on the DBH and merchantable height.
Windthrow; Windfall (Blowdown)
An area or group of trees blown over by high wind.
Wolf Tree
A tree which is taking up more space than it is worth. It is usually an old, large, low quality tree with a wide spreading crown.
Wood Pulp
Mechanically ground or chemically digested wood (composed primarily of wood fiber) used to manufacture paper or fiberboard.
Woodland
See forestland.
Yard
A place where logs, sections of logs, pulpwood bolts, etc. are collected and stored prior to being processed or transported to the mill.
Yield Table
A tabulation of volume, basal area, number of trees, etc. per acre found in full stands on specified sites at specified ages.