Thinning Scots pine forests in Norway boosts growth and reduces competition.
The article presents a growth and yield model for Scots pine forests in Norway, considering both thinned and unthinned stands. The model predicts stand dynamics, including dominant height, stem density, basal area, and stem volume. Thinning was found to increase basal area and volume growth while reducing competition-related mortality, with no significant effect on dominant height. The model showed improved prediction accuracy compared to existing models and is suitable for national deployment.