Thinning as a tool to increase resistance to stressors

While targeted thinning of a productive stand can increase the vigour for the remaining stems, and thus resistance to stressors such as drought, insects and disease, thinning operations are not without inherent risk from windthrow, for example, and they may not be commercially viable. Within BC, stands are expected to become more impacted by drought and other disturbances into the future and, as a result, detailed stand-level studies are needed to determine when and what type of thinning operations should be implemented. Working in the QN Hub, Sergio will have the objective to examine how thinning scenarios can be tailored to reduce the overall risk of losses over a full rotation. He will use a cost-benefits approach and consider operational realities such as harvest level, distribution of stem removal, harvesting technologies and road access. Outcome: Recommendations on how, when and where thinning offers commercially viable solution to reducing risk, despite uncertainties in climatic conditions.

Sergio Alonso Sanchez, MSc at University of British Columbia
Main Partner: FPInnovations
Professor Dominik Roeser