The study looked at how thinning trees and different types of forest canopies affect the growth of Scots pine trees in a mixed pine-beech forest in the Western Pyrenees. They tested three levels of thinning in 1999 and 2009 and found that moderate thinning led to better tree growth than severe thinning. Thinning also helped increase overall forest volume growth. In unthinned areas, pine trees struggled to grow as beech trees grew larger, but moderate thinning helped counteract this effect. The study suggests that moderate thinning is a good practice for young pine trees in mixed forests, as it boosts growth and helps pine trees compete with beech trees.