Accuracy and Precision of Commercial Thinning to Achieve Wildlife Management Objectives in Production Forests

摘要: Tree stocking and the associated canopy closure in production forests is often greater than optimal for wildlife that require an open understory plant community. Although mid-rotation treatments such as thinning can reduce return sunlight to forest floor, stimulating vegetation, wildlife-focused prescriptions involve stands lower tree densities are typically prescribed commercial logging operations. Therefore, we quantified accuracy precision with which crews thinned pre-marked unmarked loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) residual basal areas of 9 (low), 14 (medium), 18 (high) m2/ha. Following harvest, observed were 3.36, 1.58, 0.6 m2/ha below target high, medium, low area treatments, respectively. Pre-marking increased precision, but not accuracy, We believe outcomes sufficient achieve objectives forests, added expense pre-marking depends on focal species management objectives.