Continuous Cover Forestry
Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) is a sustainable forestry approach that avoids clear-cutting. Continuous cover forest management aims to mimic natural processes by selectively harvesting individual, mainly sawlog size, trees while preserving the overall structure of the forest. It implies that an adequate number of large trees are left untouched to enhance natural regeneration and biodiversity. CCF promotes ecological resilience by maintaining the diversity of tree species and age classes. It protects soil and water quality, contributes to carbon sequestration and maintains recreational and landscape values. In addition, in many cases CCF is economically more profitable to the forest owner than the traditional even-aged forestry. In CCF the forest regenerates naturally, allowing forest owners to avoid costly regeneration expenses such as soil preparation, planting, and drainage.