Why does Starker Forests thin the forest by removing some of the trees?

Commercial thinning is usually defined as "removing and selling a small portion of a forest". The remaining trees are left at more or less regular spacing and still appear to be a nearly fully stocked stand of trees. Starker Forests, Inc. thins for several reasons:

• Low quality trees can be removed which allows sunlight in and promotes the growth of the remaining better trees.
• Products removed by thinning can generate revenue earlier than if we waited for the trees to get old enough to clearcut.
• Removal of low dead and dying material (ladder fuel) reduces the potential for catastrophic fire.
• Removal of diseased and/or insect infested trees helps keep the forest healthy.
• Thinning gives us the income to maintain our transportation system while we are waiting for a regeneration harvest. The  maintained roads are available for a variety of uses including fire protection and recreation.