Use shelterwood cutting instead of clearcutting

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 1
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

40%
Certainty

20%
Harms

40%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Shelterwood cutting is a management technique designed to avoid clear-cutting, but to provide even-aged timber. It involves cutting trees in a series of cuttings, allowing new seedlings to grow from the seeds of older trees.

Key messages

A replicated study from the USA found that community composition of birds in shelterwood stands differed from other forestry practices, with some species more abundant and others less so.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A replicated study in 1993-1994 in mixed forests in the Missouri Ozarks, Missouri, USA (Annand & Thompson 1997), found that indigo bunting Passerina cyanea and field sparrow Spizella pusilla were more abundant in 12 shelterwood stands and in 12 clearcuts than in 22 stands under selective logging or 12 mature stands. Six species were more abundant in clearcuts than in shelterwood stands and six were more common in selectively-logged or mature stands.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Annand E.M. & Thompson F.R. (1997) Forest bird response to regeneration practices in central hardwood forests. Journal of Wildlife Management, 61.

Please cite as:

Williams, D.R., Child, M.F., Dicks, L.V., Ockendon, N., Pople, R.G., Showler, D.A., Walsh, J.C., zu Ermgassen, E.K.H.J. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Bird Conservation. Pages 137-281 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Bird Conservation

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