Assessing logging intensity of french forest resources

The rate of removals is the main factor to which reference is made to assess logging intensity of forest resources. However, other factors, commented on in this article, are also involved. In particular, an imbalance between the various stages of maturity may be grounds for more intensive logging (an aged forest on one in the process of being rejuvenated) or less intensive logging (young forest or one whose asset value is on the increase) as compared to net biological production. An adequate assessment of logging intensity is therefore based not only on the average national rate of removals but also on a breakdown of that rate between geographic areas or categories of species, the density and mortality rate of trees, and on the rate of removals for improvement and their rate for regeneration purposes. (authors)