Heavy thinning of ponderosa pine stands: An Arizona case study

Growth and structural changes in a mosaic of even-aged ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) stands were studied for 25 years to determine the long-term impacts of a heavy thinning treatment to a basal-area level of 25 ft2/acre. Basal area and volume growth of these stands has increased since thinning and likely will continue to increase as the residual trees increase in size. Furthermore, future stand integrity should be maintained at relatively low-density levels. It is unlikely, however, that timber production could be sustained at this level. A more plausible scenario is to manage the watershed for other resource values available from ponderosa pine stands.