The emphasis of silvicultural systems is on wood products, traditionally timber, but recently extended to incorporate other wood products such as firewood and poles of various sizes (Lowore and Abbot 1995; Chidumayo et al. 1996). However, very little research has been done on harvesting rates and designing management systems for non-wood products. The argument has been that products which are seasonally available such as fruits do not require harvesting limits, and that provided no damage is done to the trees during harvesting, the impact of fruit removal is minimal (see Shackleton and Clarke 2007). However, harvesting of bark for various products including medicine, rope fibre and for making beehives can be highly destructive and result in increased tree mortality (Chidumayo et al. 1996). A number of methods for reducing the negative impacts of bark harvesting have been proposed and tested, including obtaining bark from woody material that has already been cut for other purposes and improved harvesting methods that prevent ring barking and reduce fungal infestation; substitutions such as the use of leaves to obtain medicinal products rather than bark, and the provision of timber beehives (see Geldenhuys et al. 2006). Three basic silvicultural systems have been employed in harvesting extensively managed woodlands, especially miombo woodlands, namely; coppice with standards, selection system and complete coppice or clear cutting. Employing either of these systems requires that some management mechanisms are put in place to ensure high productivity. For example, adhering to optimum diameter classes within which particular species have high coppicing effectiveness would provide for enhanced coppicing ability for many woodland species. Handavu et al. (2011) observed that Brachystegia longifolia, B. spiciformis and Isoberlinia angolensis tend to have high coppicing ability in the diameter range of 15-36 cm DBH. Additionally, increased stump heights during woodland clearing have been observed to enhance the survival of stumps and coppicing. Grundy (1990) observed a reduction in coppices in lower stumps (<5 cm) compared to higher stumps (>1.3 m) in Brachystegia spiciformis. Shackleton (2001) made a similar observation in the study of indigenous savanna tree species (Terminalia sericea) for fuelwood production. According to Shackleton (2001), this may be attributed to lower potential impacts of browsers and fires. As such, the consideration of cutting heights will provide for marked effects on the resultant coppice number and regrowth rate, and hence harvest turnover time. However, too high stumps may result in instability of coppices as they develop.

Other factors that may be considered in enhancing productivity include plant age and surface area. Furthermore, thinning of regrowth stands to reduce competition for nutrients between often many coppices may result in increased survival and vigour of coppices. Lastly, management especially of young stands should also include protection against fires and drought.