Uneven-aged management is better termed "multi-aged" or "multi-sized" for southwestern ponderosa pine, given regeneration and survival patterns in this forest type. Multi-aged management, particularly when using group selection marking, creates vertical and horizontal structure associated with pre-settlement forest conditions, interrupts crown continuity to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire, and provides for long-term sustainability of forest structure. Stand conditions following treatment are based on 'BDq', the desired residual basal area (B), maximum tree diameter (D), and a q-ratio - a ratio of the number of trees in one diameter class to that of the next, which controls of the 'shape' of a diameter distribution. Thinning treatments are followed with prescribed fire.

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