Puuston
Puuston is a Finnish forestry term referring to the forest stand, the coherent unit of trees growing together within a defined area that is managed as a single unit. Puuston is described by its species composition, age structure, and vertical and horizontal structure, and it serves as the basis for planning and assessment in forestry.
In practice, puuston descriptions categorize stands by dominant species (for example Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Betula
Puuston classifications guide management actions such as thinning, regeneration, and harvest scheduling. Planning processes use puuston
Ecologically, puuston is a key unit for assessing carbon stock, biodiversity, and habitat quality. Disturbances—natural or
In Finland, puuston inventories underpin national forest inventories, corporate and municipal forest planning, and scientific research.