The Desired Future Condition should also include a description of functions as well as structure. The silvicultural strategies recommended by the Library Group to achieve this condition are intermediate thinning and regeneration harvest using group selection and single tree selection. Intermediate Thinning Intermediate cuts will mostly be thinnings from below.
Forest health is the primary objective.
Fires hazard, risk of insect and disease, over-stocking and overstory suppression are some characteristics considered when selecting trees to cut. Trees removed during thinning operations will generally be in the smaller diameter classes. Thinning should be structured to achieve stocking levels with the desired species composition and individual phenotypes to grow these areas into future groups. Where feasible, slash should be chipped or burned following thinning operations and a prescribed fire underburn should be considered. Planning watersheds are the appropriate landscape element for intermediate thinnings.