felling cycle

This involved stock-mapping of all economic trees; the selective exploitation of mature species, governed by minimum-girth limits; and a 25-year felling cycle.

Although secondary forests frequently peak in terms of biomass accumulation well-within one felling cycle, the transition to primary forests usually requires several rotation lengths, depending upon the severity of the original disturbance.

Initiatives to develop long-term sustained yield management include the Ghana forest simulation model, GHAFOSIM, which reviewed current and alternative exploitation practices and recommended a 40-year felling cycle (Ghartey 1990, cited in Sayer et al. 1992).