Active Forest Managment - Thinning

"Before and After" Harvesting Pictures

There is probably no treatment in forest management comparing in importance to a proper thinning operation. Thinning trees is an often overlooked step of great importance that should be carried out by someone with the needed technical and biological know-how. Many landowners put off this practice using the argument of "timber prices are down", "trees are too small to realize a profit", or, "it won't pay for itself". The following pictures (and final numbers) attest that even during a fluctuating and sometimes soft timber market a thinning treatment can be implemented, yielding the landowner a return while improving the overall forest health of that area.

A forest thinning treatment should be part of every landowners plan and incorporated into an overall forest management strategy. Active forest management yields greater returns to landowners and prepares them for future economic opportunities that cannot be realized by the passive, reactionary decision to "cut trees". Work with a professional and always do your homework before starting the first chainsaw.

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BEFORE 1- The stand had a pre-treatment over story of mid-sized Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and Western Larch. Under story composition is heavy to approx. 50 yr old lodgepole pine. Little to no ground cover vegetation is present due to tight growth conditions. Note center of picture, two access roads are being choked by vegetation.

AFTER 1- All the lodgepole pine under story and diseased Douglas-fir is removed leaving a residual stand of large ponderosa pine and western larch trees. A total of 13.7 tons/acre of saw-wood and 20.2 tons/acre of chipwood material was removed. Compare access roads to the previous picture.