Timber Stand Improvement

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-028142",
  "term": "Timber Stand Improvement",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "Traditionally, stand improvement was known as TSI or Timber Stand Improvement. TSI focused on concentrating growth on those trees for timber crops. Because most owners desire more than timber, TSI is now often referred to as forest stand improvement or just stand improvement. Simply put, stand improvement is a treatment, or action, that improves the growth of your best trees and removes any trees that are in their way. Stand improvement can be completely adapted to the specific site conditions, ownership objectives, and resources at hand. Stand improvement generally does not attempt to establish new seedlings, but rather to enhance the best existing trees. Stand improvement is hard work because it usually involves cutting trees, but it might also involve herbicide applications, prescribed burning , or girdling . To provide the values that humans want and need, trees need to increase in size each year. Often, the faster and bigger they grow each year, the more abundant the products, such as wood, fruit, and sap. Trees are unlike animals that at stabilize in size at maturity.",
  "abbreviation": "TSI",
  "references": [
    "USDA Forest Service Managing your forest land - Landowners Top-10 Frequently Asked Questions at http://www.na.fs.fed.us/stewardship/faq/04standimprove.html"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/timber-stand-improvement/"
}