Division II – Protection of forest regeneration and soils and preparatory work for forest production
Section 153
Any cutting without regeneration and soil protection is prohibited.
During harvest, measures limiting injury to the forest regeneration in place and stems that are not harvested must be taken to ensure that they are adequately protected.
This section does not apply where the sylvicultural prescription provides for special management procedures adapted to the cutting sector with a view to ensuring forest regeneration. 
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Objectives
- To protect natural forest regeneration
- To avoid disturbing the soil
- To promote forest regeneration
- To ensure that forest production is resumed on the site
Additional information
Cutting with protection of regeneration and soils helps preserve young tree shoots and avoids deterioration of the soil. This requires the use of work techniques and types of logging machines that are adapted to the prevailing conditions in the cutting area – for example, by choosing the best period of the year to carry out harvesting on more fragile soils and adapting to weather conditions (e.g. harvesting in winter and not harvesting when the soil is very wet). The impact of logging machines in the cutting sector must also be reduced by placing cutting and hauling trails as far apart as possible.
In some cases, forestry companies are not required to implement measures to protect regeneration and soils. Where this is the case, the sylvicultural prescription may provide for a treatment that consists in shaping the forest soil so that the forest environment is physically adapted to germination, survival and growth of the desired seeding species. Treatments such as these may be used, for example, to counter problems such as soil paludification.
