This poster by Phil Morgan (Association Futaie Irrégulière (AFI)) and Edward Wilson (Silviculture Research International) was presented at the Society of American Foresters National Convention, Silviculture Matters!, North Charleston, South Carolina, 23-27 October 2013. Summary: The Association Futaie Irrégulière (AFI) is a private-land forestry group interested in managing uneven-aged forests. A protocol has been devised to monitor forest development and collaborate in applied research. Full Abstract: The Association Futaie Irrégulière (AFI) is a leading organisation of private forest owners, based in France, who have adopted continuous cover forest management systems. The association has established a network of research stands throughout western and northern Europe to monitor the development of uneven-aged forests. The network currently numbers over 100 stands, and is expanding to new territories and countries including Canada and the US. Each stand is monitored according to a common protocol recording dendrological and economic factors. Stands are selected on the basis of structure, species mix, site type, geographical distribution and regional characteristics. To date, the network has contributed over 40,000 records to a continuous cover database that is centrally maintained and managed, and used for meta-analysis. The protocol for stand assessment has proved to be robust and efficient, and has provided evidence of cost-effective delivery of quality timber and enables forest owners to quantify a range of ecosystem services. In addition, AFI also provides support to members with local research stands and projects, and in technical support with forest inventory. The AFI is affiliated to Pro Silva, the close-to-nature forestry association.

1. The AFI Network:
Monitoring Continuous Cover Forests in Europe
Monitoring on 3 levels &
Training in transformation
AFI Research stands
A European Network of 118 Research stands established
over 20 years, recording species mixtures, site types,
regional characteristics and geographical spread
Providing baseline information from permanent sample plots
Monitoring dendrological and economic development used in
meta-analysis
Local research stands
Abbreviated protocol to monitor local stand development
Gives a baseline record of individual stand characteristics
Allows forest managers to refine management for forest area
from key indicator stands
Gives valuable increment data to determine sustainability
and economic performance
Adheres to AFI protocol enabling future upgrade to the
Network
Forest inventory
Sets a systematic grid across a whole forest
The AFI abbreviated protocol applies to all sample plots
Determines baseline growing stock for the whole forest
Provides a record of sustainable management
Quantifies flux in timber quality
Values economic variation of the forest asset
The Marteloscope
A powerful training tool for continuous cover forestry and
single tree selection
1 hectare plot where all the trees are numbered, plotted and
identified, measured and graded
In training exercises, trees are selected by recording
individual tree numbers
The advanced software provides immediate analysis of
results and the trainee selection is scored and set against
strategies and optimal cut
Philippe Morgan, Association Futaie Irrégulière
Ted Wilson, Silviculture Research International
enquires@selectfor.com