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Genetic Improvement Conversion

There is no a priori biological reason to negate the feasibility of conversion in forest management. Natural conversion is a continuing, often almost imperceptible process on a local scale in the natural forest. It becomes all too obvious following catastrophe such as fire or heavy logging. I first came to work in western Maine in 1924. During the past ten years I have revisited areas that were in spruce-fir when they were logged in the 1920+s; now they are covered by hardwoods. If we want hardwood, that represents good silviculture; if we want conifers, it represents extremely poor silviculture. Conversion can be an excellent tool, but we have much to learn before we can use it beneficially in this spruce-fir type.


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Author(s): Ernst. J. Schreiner

Publication: Tree Improvement and Genetics - Northeastern Forest Tree Improvement Conference - 1957