Definitions | Acronyms

### Wood Classifications

Forest stage
Type | Description
Primary forest | Unused forest that is still in its original state, or has recovered to a comparable state.
Regrowth forest | Phase in the forest cycle until mature (rotation cycle* period)
Mature forest | Forest is in a state that allows the next harvest of wood
*The rotation cycle is a property of the forest management type

Forestry type
Type | Description
None | No management applied, i.e. primary forest
Clear-cut | Forest used for wood production in consecutive cycles of complete cutting of a forest area and subsequent regrowth. Regeneration may be assisted and can include thinning, but without major further management to improve growth. The area of clear-cut forest keeps a designation as forest. If the forest is converted to other land-uses, e.g. agricultural area, the area is considered to be deforested.
Selective cut | Forests that are used for wood production by selectively harvesting a few individual trees. This is mainly practiced in tropical forests that, due to their heterogeneous nature, often have only few individual of commercial species per ha. Although usually only 4-10 trees per ha are harvested, damage to the remaining stand may be considerable, potentially leading to degradation of the forest stand.
Wood plantations | Planted forests where management is optimized for efficient wood production with shorter rotation cycles.

Wood products
Type | Description
Pulpwood (short lifetime) | Wood used for production of pulp and fibers that are used in paper industries.
Round wood (long lifetime) | Sawlogs and veneer. Wood produced for application in timber industries (mostly building and construction material) and joinery.
Fuel wood | Wood produced for (domestic) energy purposes, either direct or first processed to charcoal.