REGEN: A program for reporting on forest regeneration

Abstract

REGEN was developed by the National Forestry Database Program to report on forest regeneration activities and conditions on harvested lands. The underlying conceptual model clearly identifies the linkage between treatments (harvesting and silvicultural activities) and regeneration status, and characterizes the transitional nature of regeneration. The approach allows for the incorporation of updated information on the status of regenerating conditions as it becomes available from re-inventories and periodic assessments. Regeneration condition is described in terms of nine status classes which relate to the levels of stocking of commercial species and the degree of competition. These classes were designed to accommodate the variation in standards which occurs among jurisdictions. Five simplified regeneration classes are used for public reporting purposes. Key words: status of forest regeneration, harvesting, silvicultural activities