Not all elements of biodiversity can or need to be maintained on every hectare. Therefore, planning is best accomplished at a landscape level. However, biodiversity activities must be implemented on a stand level. Providing wildlife trees in managed forests is probably the most important stand management practice to maintain biodiversity. Broadcast burning is generally incompatible with retention of wildlife trees, while mechanical site preparation has an effect only if the equipment lessens the stability of the wildlife trees.
Safety is a primary issue when leaving snags in an active area.
Decaying logs on the forest floor provide cover, special microclimates, and breeding and foraging habitat for a wide variety of organisms. The extent of this debris is site specific and should be sufficient to maintain naturally occurring levels on site. Woody debris should be retained when site preparation treatments are undertaken. Larger size pieces are preferable and should be retained wherever possible subject to consideration and, where necessary, modification of such factors as utilization standards, forest health and fire protection restrictions. Coarse woody debris should be well distributed throughout the block, although some clumping, piling, or windrowing may be acceptable as these provide important habitat for some wildlife species.