Ohutuspääsude

Ohutuspääsude, often translated as "thinning felling" or "pre-commercial thinning," is a forestry practice primarily aimed at improving the growth and quality of remaining trees in a stand. It is typically carried out in young, densely planted forests, often before the trees reach a commercial size. The main objective is to reduce competition among trees for resources such as sunlight, water, and nutrients. By removing weaker, suppressed, or poorly formed trees, the remaining trees are given more space to develop, leading to increased diameter growth, improved wood quality, and a more resilient forest.

This silvicultural treatment can be performed manually using chainsaws or with specialized machinery. The trees removed are usually too small for timber products and may be left on the forest floor to decompose, contributing to nutrient cycling, or sometimes chipped for biomass. The timing of ohutuspääsude is crucial; if done too early, it might not have a significant impact, and if done too late, the competition may have already caused irreversible damage to the desirable trees.

The benefits extend beyond individual tree growth. Thinning can reduce the risk of windthrow and snow damage by creating a more open canopy and stronger root systems in the remaining trees. It can also influence understory vegetation and wildlife habitat, depending on the intensity and method of thinning. Ohutuspääsude is a proactive management tool that helps shape the future structure and composition of a forest, ultimately contributing to sustainable forest management goals.