An algorithm-based approach for tree selection in continuous cover forestry

Continuous cover forestry (CCF) is gaining increasing attention in Estonia, but its implementation is constrained by limited experience, insufficiently detailed forest inventory data, and regulatory frameworks developed primarily for even-aged forest management. In this study, we established a CCF experimental site on private forest land by setting up permanent sample plots following the design of the Estonian Network of Forest Research Plots. We also developed an algorithm-based approach for automatic tree selection in the selection cutting area using detailed tree-level data collected from the sample plots. The experimental site provides a potentially long-term empirical basis for testing selection cutting decisions, identifying the level of forest inventory detail required for CCF, and evaluating the applicability of current management rules to continuous cover forestry and their scope for development under Estonian conditions.