Which type of cutting is used primarily to foster new growth by removing older trees?

The type of cutting used primarily to foster new growth by removing older trees is intermediate cutting. This method is designed to promote the growth of younger trees by selectively removing some mature trees and allowing more light and resources to reach the understory. This practice helps in maintaining a healthy forest ecosystem, as it encourages regeneration and sustains biodiversity.

Intermediate cutting typically involves practices such as thinning or shelterwood cutting, focusing on intermediate-aged forests where the goal is to develop a future crop of desirable trees. By carefully managing which trees are cut, foresters can influence the species composition and overall health of the forest, creating a balanced environment that supports both old and new growth.

In contrast, the other types of cutting do not primarily aim at fostering new growth: harvest cutting often suggests a clear extraction of mature timber for economic purposes, clear-cutting removes all trees in a particular area, drastically altering the landscape, and selective cutting involves removing specific trees without focused attention on regeneration. Thus, intermediate cutting is particularly effective for promoting new growth while still managing the existing forest.