Thinning II

Woodland Owners’ View

Too many trees in this stand. The small pine seedlings aren’t getting enough light in order to grow bigger and better. If some of those competing trees are removed, the remaining trees will grow wider and taller.

Logger’s View

 Loggers invest in cut-to-length systems so they can handle small trees like these economically. It helps a lot that the hiking trails are well-marked, so the equipment trails can be planned around them.

Forester’s View

The stand is overstocked, slowing growth of white pine sawlog crop trees; the stand stock table is well above the B-line. Barely established pine seedlings are suppressed, need to be released.

Woodland Owners’ View

This thinning will allow more sun and space for the top of the trees. The pine seedlings will show up in a few years. And, it looks like the ground and soil are intact.

Forester’s View

The light thinning from below provides more crown space for crop trees. It’s likely that some seedlings will be released, even though that’s not the primary reason for the harvest. Moderate amount of medium-sized woody material on the ground for habitat and soil protection.

Wildlife Outcome

Ovenbirds could be nesting in ground litter. Black-throated blue warblers and Blackburnian warblers also like these conditions.

Equipment Used

In-woods cut-to-length processor; six-wheeled forwarder.