Although the phases are defined by tree size/health, they differ slightly from development stages sensu Oliver and Larson (1996). Whereas “Regeneration” corresponds to the “stand initiation” stage, their “stem exclusion” stage is split here into “Young” and “Medium” phases, which are typically characterized by precommercial or thinning operations, respectively. Although the beginning of the “adult” phase and their “understorey reinitiation” stage are quite similar, no separate “old-growth” stage is distinguished in our classification. Table 1 summarizes the 12 critical decisions chosen for defining FMAs, the phases of stand or tree group development to which they predominantly refer, and the key variables they