The ThiRST experiment is a silvicultural trial installed in 2022 to assess the potential of pre-commercial thinning to reduce the vulnerability of white spruce stands to increasing drought. This is of particular interest to the forestry industry as drought frequency and severity are projected to increase in the coming years, which can have negative effects on the growth and productivity of commercial softwoods. Pre-commercial thinning is seen as a potential silvicultural solution to reduce water stress. ThiRST is set up in the Black Brook district of New Brunswick on J.D. Irving Ltd land.

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The objectives of this project are:

1. To assess the vulnerability of white spruce plantations to water deficit.

2. To evaluate the effectiveness of pre-commercial thinning in reducing white spruce stress under water deficit​