658bbd26_sts___Natural_Resources_Canada__Term
[Definition] A silvicultural system that follows nature’s model by always retaining part of the forest after harvesting. Standing trees are left in a dispersed or aggregated form to meet objectives such as retaining old-growth structure, habitat protection and visual quality. Variable retention retains structural features (snags, large woody debris, live trees of varying sizes, canopy levels) as wildlife habitat. [French] Rétention variable [Term] 
Variable-retention
Glossary | Forests | Natural Resources Canada
Term