Why are we cutting down these small beech trees?

Spring is almost here! We're making a final push to give some young oaks and hickories a leg up before the trees break dormancy. The forest here was historically dominated by oak and hickory trees, but without the periodic wildfires that used to suppress the shade-tolerant species, beeches and maples eventually shade out most other trees now. By selectively culling some of the beeches and maples, we can allow a wider diversity of tree species to grow and thrive. See if you can spot the young hickories and oaks marked with green flagging tape!