More topics

Commercial thinning

Last updated on February 24, 2026

Commercial thinning is a partial harvest that occurs prior to the final harvest of a stand. As a silvicultural intervention, commercial thinning has similar benefits to spacing as remaining trees gain access to increased sunlight, nutrient and water which can result in greater growth prior to final harvest.

Commercial thinning can have economic benefits in both the short and long-term. In the short-term, pre-commercial thinning can provide a low value source of biomass for new markets including use as a biofuel. Later benefits include reducing waste at final harvest and mitigating wildfire risk.

The additional benefits of commercial thinning include:

  • Providing access to supplementary fibre when there is a shortage in flow
  • Maintaining a reasonable growth rate of remaining trees through reduced competition for site resources
  • Reducing the impacts of forest damage factors, such as drought, insects, and disease
  • Managing a forest for a variety of non-timber stewardship values

Commercial thinning guidance:

Please direct questions to the Intensive Silviculture Specialist at ThinningSupport@gov.bc.ca

Extensive commercial thinning research is conducted through experimental projects across the province. Research publications focus on  commercial thinning within different stand types and locations.