High stumps

Forestry leaves high stumps when trees are felled. A high stump is the upper part of a tree trunk that is left standing after the tree has been felled or cut at a high height, often 3–5 metres above the ground. Unlike a regular stump, which is low and close to ground level, a high stump remains as a standing structure in the forest for many years.

High stumps promote biodiversity. When the tree dies and begins to decompose, it becomes a habitat for many species. Insects, especially beetles, thrive in high stumps, as do woodpeckers, which find it easier to peck holes in dying trees than in healthy ones. Fungi and lichens grow on the dying wood and are an important part of the chain of decomposition.