A high forest is a type of forest originated from seed or from planted seedlings. In contrast to a low forest1 (also known as a coppice forest), a high forest usually consists of large, tall mature trees with a closed canopy.2 High forests can occur naturally or they can be created and maintained by human management. Trees in a high forest can be of one, a few or many species. A high forest can be even-aged or uneven-aged.34 Even-aged forests contain trees of one, or two successional age classes (generations). Uneven-aged forests have three or more age classes represented.
High forests have relatively high genetic diversity compared with coppice forests, which develop from vegetative reproduction. A high forest can have one or more canopy layers. The understory of a high forest can be open (parklike, easy to see and walk through), or it can be dense. A high forest's understory can have high or low vegetation species diversity.
References
References
- "SAFnet Dictionary: Definition of [low_forest]". Archived from the original on 2013-07-12.
- "Dictionary of Forestry". Society of American Foresters. Archived from the original on 2013-07-09.
- "SAFnet Dictionary: Definition of [uneven-aged_system]". Archived from the original on 2013-12-27.
- Smith, D.M. (1986). The Practice of Silviculture. New York: John Wiley and Sons. p. 527.