Radial thinning: It may not be as beneficial as hoped

Sharon M. Hood

Treesearch

Radial thinning: It may not be as beneficial as hoped

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Sharon M. Hood

Year:

2023

Type:

Science Bulletins and Newsletters

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Science You Can Use (in 5 Minutes), January 2022. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p.

Download (PDF 1.63 MB)

Download (PDF 1.63 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/65918.pdf

Abstract

White pines in North America face threats including the nonnative blister rust pathogen, mountain pine beetle, wildfires, and other consequences of rapid climate change. These grand trees need protection to restore and maintain a diverse forest ecosystem. Radial thinning - clearing a prescribed radius around each tree - is one treatment that researchers and managers are testing to possibly increase vigor and decrease mortality, while still maintaining high forest cover. This type of treatment is sometimes used when heavier, stand-level thinning is not a viable option due to social or regulatory constraints.

Keywords

radial thinning, sugar pine, white pine

Citation

Hood, Sharon. 2023. Radial thinning: It may not be as beneficial as hoped. Science You Can Use (in 5 Minutes), January 2022. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p.