What is one method of selective cutting used in forestry?

Selective cutting is a forest management practice that involves the careful harvesting of specific trees while leaving the surrounding forest intact. This method promotes the growth of remaining trees and helps maintain the overall health of the ecosystem. Single tree selection is a method of selective cutting where individual trees are removed based on specific criteria, such as age, health, and size, allowing for the continued growth and regeneration of the forest.

This approach facilitates a balanced age and species distribution within the forest, which enhances biodiversity and can improve habitat for wildlife. Furthermore, it minimizes the impact on the surrounding flora and fauna compared to more intensive cutting methods like clear-cutting, which removes all trees in an area, drastically altering the landscape and potentially leading to erosion and loss of habitat.

In contrast, the other options do not represent selective cutting methods. Clear-cutting completely removes all trees from an area, plantation cutting typically involves the harvest of entire plantations of trees, and stump removal relates to post-harvest activities rather than the cutting method itself.