Key Forestry Terms and Ratios

Product Categories

Pulpwood	≥ 6” DBH to a minimum 3” top diameter
Chip-n-saw	≥ 9-14” DBH to a minimum 6” top diameter
Sawtimber	≥ 14” DBH to a minimum 8” top diameter
Veneer log	≥ 16” DBH clear/straight first log

Ratios Pine:
SawTimber 7.5 tons per thousand board feet
ChipNSaw  7.5 tons per thousand board feet
PulpWood  2.68 tons per standard cord

Ratios Hardwood:
SawTimber 8.75 tons per thousand board feet
PulpWood 2.9 tons per standard cord

Terms:
BA - Basal Area ... The cross-sectional area in square ft of a tree trunk when measured at 4.5 feet above the ground.  This measurement is used to estimate the stocking of trees per acre.  A young, sapling-sized pine stand may have a BA of 200 square feet/acre,  while a mature pine stand that has been thinned and has large diameter tree may have a BA of 60 to 80 square feet/acre.

DBH - Diameter at Breast Height ... The diameter of a tree when measured at a point 4.5 feet above the average ground surface.  This is the standard measure used in forestry to estimate tree diameter.

SI - Site Index ... A relative measure of a site's productivity potential based upon tree height at a specific base-age,  usually 25 or 50 years.  A site that has a SI of 85 at age 25 is more productive than another site that has a SI of 70 at age 25.