In forestry

Forestry

Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...

, stocking (or stand density), is a quantitative

Quantitative research

In the social sciences, quantitative research refers to the systematic empirical investigation of social phenomena via statistical, mathematical or computational techniques. The objective of quantitative research is to develop and employ mathematical models, theories and/or hypotheses pertaining to...

 measure of the area occupied by tree

Tree

A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...

s, usually measured in terms of well-spaced trees or basal area

Basal area

Basal area is the term used in forest management that defines the cross-sectional area of a tree at DBH, inside the bark.In most countries, this is usually a measurement taken at a specimen's breast height above the ground and includes the entire diameter of every tree, including the bark...

 per hectare

Hectare

The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...

, relative to an optimum or desired level of density. A desirable level of stocking is oftentimes considered that which maximizes timber production

Timber

Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...

, or other management objectives

Forest management

200px|thumb|right|[[Sustainable development|Sustainable]] forest management carried out by [[Complejo Forestal y Maderero Panguipulli|Complejo Panguipulli]] has contributed to the preservation of the forested landscape around [[Neltume]], a sawmill town in Chile...

.

Stocking can be expressed in either absolute or relative terms. Absolute terms include the basal area or trees per acre. Relative terms measure the density against a reference level, which is determined by dominant tree species, the plant community, and site index

Site index

Site index is a term used in forestry to describe the potential for forest trees to grow at a particular location or "site." Site is defined as “inherent characteristics of the physical environment”; furthermore, the word site is used in forestry to refer to a distinct area where trees are found....

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