Timber Stand Improvement: Thinning Guidelines for Douglas-Fir

Key Points

• Thinning has increased rapidly since 1958 in Oregon and Washington national forests, improving timber health.
• Precommercial thinning began in 1961, covering 8,000 acres in Fiscal Year 1966, showing significant forest management.
• Guidelines were developed to assist in thinning practices within the Douglas-fir subregion, enhancing ecological balance.
• These practices may promote healthier ecosystems and better quality timber resources in national forests.