A suite of forest management approaches (FMAs) is proposed, defined by the silvicultural operations practiced and the intensity of human manipulation of the processes of natural forest development. The FMAs are characterized by a coherent set of objectives and supporting practices, which results in a framework that should enable transnational, cross-regional, and within-region comparisons of different silvicultural systems. This framework includes the detail of local technological, economic, and ecological situations, while still being insightful for policy at the regional and cross-regional levels. We illustrate the potential utility of this framework of FMAs by applying it to five European regions with different tree species and varying silvicultural regimes.