Pre-Commercial thinning (PCT) is the most important and widely practiced silvicultural treatment used in the Province today.
- More than 1000 km2 have been treated Province-wide since 1979.
- Treatments are applied to young, overdense, naturally-regenerated stands of Balsam Fir and Black Spruce.
- Between 10,000 and 100,000 trees per hectare in naturally regenerated stands. PCT reduces this to between 2,000 and 2,500 evenly- spaced crop trees per hectare.
- Chainsaws are sometimes used but tool of choice is the specialty brush saw which is safer and faster.
- Felled trees are left on site to rot and help fertilize remaining crop trees.
- Treatment contributes significantly to future supply of high-value wood.