Harvesting Mature Trees

Weyerhaeuser harvests only 2 to 3 percent of its Northwest timberland each year, generally when trees are 40 to 60 years old. These levels provide the income needed for future investments, stability to communities, and diverse forest habitat for diverse plant and wildlife populations.

• Clearcutting—Most of the trees in an area are harvested at the same time. The area is replanted immediately, fertilized, and sometimes landscaped for appearance. Clearcutting is especially effective for trees growing west of the Cascade Mountains such as Douglas fir, which does not tolerate shade and cannot thrive under a forest canopy. By law clearcuts are smaller today than in the past.
• Selective cutting—The periodic harvest of single trees or groups of trees creates gaps in the forest, providing space for seedlings that don't need full sunlight. Selective cutting looks better than clearcutting, and is well-suited to trees that like shade, including pine species on the arid east side of the Cascades.
• Engineering and planning—Long-term and short-term planning for a forest can be a complex task. New technology like computer information systems, satellites and data collection has increased the accuracy of information. Forest engineering often includes tracking forestry activities, selecting stands for harvest, maintaining roads, determining regeneration requirements and obtaining governmental permits and approvals.