In Norther Hardwood forest types in Northeast PA and New York, we often have problems with heavy beech understory. This is caused by the beech trees being stressed by disease and previous harvest activities. When a beech tree is stressed, it sends up root suckers and these can take over the entire understory, shading out everything else that would otherwise grow there. So, we cut them. On State land in New York, all harvesting must be accompanied by TSI and regeneration work (as it should on all harvesting activities). This opens up the canopy to allow regeneration of desirable species such as sugar maple, black cherry and oak. Harvesting without the TSI work results in a stand of beech brush that will never grow into a valuable timber stand.
The secondary benefit is that we create a thicket of beech tops that will attract deer to use the area as cover.