Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the specific term used to describe the ideal volume of timber present in a "normal forest"—a theoretical model used as a benchmark in forest management.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
• Concept of Normal Forest: A normal forest is an idealized forest that has reached a state of equilibrium. It consists of a complete series of age classes, each occupying an equal area, and each showing a "normal" or maximum possible increment for that site.
• Growing Stock: Growing stock refers to the sum (by number or volume) of all the trees growing in a forest. When this growing stock corresponds to the state of normality, it is termed "Normal Growing Stock."
• Calculation: Normal growing stock is the total volume of wood that a forest must contain at any given time to produce the "normal increment" (maximum sustainable yield) indefinitely. It represents the "capital" of the forest.
• Significance: Forest managers compare the "actual growing stock" of a real forest with the calculated "normal growing stock" to decide whether to increase or decrease the harvest to move the forest toward a sustainable, high-productivity state.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The total volume in such a forest is known as the normal growing stock.