What is the term for the practice of selectively removing trees to improve the overall health of a forest?

The practice of selectively removing trees to improve the overall health of a forest is known as thinning. Thinning is an essential forest management technique that aims to reduce competition among trees for resources such as sunlight, water, and nutrients. By removing certain trees, the remaining ones can grow stronger and healthier, which enhances the overall biodiversity and resilience of the forest ecosystem.

Pruning refers specifically to the practice of trimming trees and shrubs to remove dead or overgrown branches, primarily for aesthetic reasons or to promote healthy growth in individual trees. This process is more focused on individual plants rather than the broader forest health context.

Trimming is often used interchangeably with pruning but is typically less formal and may not involve the same level of strategic planning regarding the health of a forest.

Felling is the act of cutting down trees completely, which does not imply selective removal aimed at improving forest health but rather involves the complete removal of a tree from the ecosystem. Hence, thinning is the correct term that encompasses the selective nature of the practice aimed at enhancing the health of a forest.