Stocking (forestry)
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Stocking is a quantitative measure of the area occupied by trees, usually measured in terms of well-spaced trees or basal area per hectare, relative to an optimum or desired level of density.[1] It is also used as a measure of the growth potential of a site that may be affected by vegetation in the area along with other nearby trees. Stocking can be shown as a ratio of the current stand density to the stand density of a maximally-occupied site.[2] Stocking measures account for three things: the cover type and species mixture in the stand, the basal area per acre, and the number of trees per acre.[3]
Stocking allows for comparing stands that may have diverse ecology.[4] Stocking is a major part of forest management, both in commercial applications and for restoration or preservation. A desirable level of stocking is often considered that which maximizes timber production, or other management objectives.