Comparative Review of Pre-harvest Understory Thinning in IDF on Post-harvest Residual Retention and Fuel Loading, within Partial-harvested Stands

Project Title: Comparative Review of Pre-harvest Understory Thinning in IDF on Post-harvest Residual Retention and Fuel Loading, within Partial-harvested Stands

Recipient: Stswecem’c Xget’tem Development Corporation (SXDC)

Region: Cariboo and Thompson-Okanagan

Theme(s): “Thin it to win it”

Awarded Amount: $50,000

Project period: 2025-2026

Description: This project plans to compare two Dry-Belt Douglas-fir sites, one site being thinned prior to partial-harvest and the second site left untreated. Pre-harvest thinning has never been applied before in the dry Douglas-fir forests.The first phase of this project will be to complete the thinning. This trial will provide costing and practitioner/operator experience in working with a partial-cutting system (single tree selection) with regards to prescription development, supervision, and project outcomes. The data to be collected will help to inform future best practices and will be helpful to set appraisal cost allowances, for working in these timber types.