This manual provides a summary of the current state-of-the-art of strip clearcutting in Ontario. It emphasizes the management of black spruce and covers the range of soils and sites from dry, shallow-soil uplands to lowlands with moist mineral or organic soils. It also suggests some modifications of the system that, although not tested, may warrant operational trials for further fine-tuning. We do not have all the answerts about strip clearcutting. However, our studies to date indicate that the system provides acceptable to desirable levels of stocking in a high proportion of the cut strips. Hence, we offer this manual as a guide and stimulus to the practicing forester to apply the system on those sites where it appears well suited to meet management objectives. The manual is organized into six main parts to describe the main features of the stripcutting system. Part I provides the background for and status of natural regeneration in Ontario. Part II then presents a description of strip clearcutting and small-area clearcutting. Part III outlines the silvics of black spruce, presents the major requirements for achieving successful natural regeneration by seed, and details the site conditions under which strip clearcutting can be applied, mainly for black spruce but also including some other forest types in which the technique has been or can be applied. Part IV, the main body of the manual, provides details on how to stripcut, following the normal sequence of activities in this system- planning, stripcut layout, implementation, site preparation, leave time, regenerating the last cut strips, and tending. Part V, on economics, environment and other values, discusses several other important considerations that will influence the decision on whether to use strip clearcutting. Part VI, conclusions, summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of strip clearcutting, and is followed by a comprehensive bibliography of selected literature on strip clearcutting.
