Trees of different sizes and species were removed to reduce the stocking
level from 100% to 60%. Thinning provides more space and resources
to the most desireable trees. The purpose of this treatment could include improvement for wildlife, recreation, aesthetics, or timber production, depending upon the objectives of the landowner.

This particular treatment (figure 1) improved the stand for timber while maintaining tree species diversity and retained den trees and valuable food producers for wildlife. An improvement thinning represents sound forestry; it serves as an investment in the future forest while providing some immediate income.

This improvement thinning (figure 2) was designed to meet a set of specified objectives, including production of timber for income, maintenance of wildlife habitat, and protection of the soils and related resources.

In an improvement thinning, the resource professional balances the landowner's management objectives with forest conditions, site, and markets, then selects individual trees to cut or to leave on the basis of species, spacing, and tree quality.

The result is that trees of many sizes are removed and growth is redistributed by making growing space available to desired trees. In this way, the overall quality of the forest is improved for whatever objectives were chosen. Typically, the immediate cash return from this type of thinning does little more than cover its costs, but the treatment serves as an investment in the future of the forest.