Puulohko

Puulohko is a term used in Finnish forestry referring to a defined spatial unit of forest land that is managed as a single block for silvicultural work and timber harvesting. The concept functions as a planning and operational unit within forest management, allowing decisions to be made and tracked at a manageable scale.

A puulohko typically corresponds to a contiguous area that is mapped and surveyed in forest inventories. It may contain one or more stands and is characterized by factors such as age structure, species composition, site productivity, regeneration status, and existing timber volume. Boundaries are defined in forest maps and GIS data to support accurate planning and reporting.

In practice, puulohko-level planning guides activities such as thinning, regeneration, final harvest, road construction, and logistics. By grouping operations within a puulohko, foresters can optimize treatment schedules, assess costs, and monitor outcomes over time. Volume, value, and treatment prescriptions are often recorded at the puulohko level to support rotation planning and sustainable management.

The term is primarily used in Finnish forestry and related administration. Its English equivalents are often described as “timber harvest block” or “logging block,” though exact usage can vary among organizations. Etymologically, puu means wood, and lohko means block or parcel, reflecting its function as a defined portion of the forest allocated for management activities.