The exchange of data is becoming more and more important in forestry. For example, the expertise and data gained from growth and yield experiments are now useful in global ecological research. In Switzerland, long-term research plots that were laid out decades ago to satisfy local needs for information on forest growth have suddenly obtained an importance that was unforeseen at the time of their installation. Within this long time span a characteristic growth and yield and sylvicultural →terminology developed differently in different regions of the world. In this paper it will be shown how different →terms are used locally to refer to the same →concept in different geographic areas.
Forestry will always maintain its local character to some extent. For example, different local →terminologies have developed in particular areas in German-speaking countries and are resistant to change. Their origins can probably be traced back to the faculties of forestry at the different universities. The →term top height, in German Oberhöhe or Spitzenhöhe - with its numerous variants - exemplifies how having a variety of →definitions and interpretations does not create additional knowledge and how standardisation is possible.
In a few regions in Europe "uneven-aged" and "structured" forests are traditional regimes that are very similar in structure to some natural forests in, e.g., North America. The →terminology used to describe the forest structures and the management systems varies greatly from one continent to another. It is important that we find ways of agreeing on these →terms and of compromising with local ideological differences.
In 1959, IUFRO standardised the symbols used in forest mensuration. A perusal of the growth and yield literature reveals that, unfortunately, these symbols are still only used to a limited extent. Consistent use of these symbols would help to avoid a proliferation of different interpretations. It is proposed that these symbols should be included in the publications of SilvaVoc.