I had a roommate in college that was a silviculture major (forestry management) who used to tell me all the time how important it was to thin old growth forests.  He considered it very necessary and proper management that actually improved forest conditions overall.  He didn't go to work for a commercial logger or anything like that either.  His first job out of college was climbing 200'+ Douglas firs to collect seed for the National Forest Service.  The last time I talked to him, he was still there, though not a climber anymore. 

btw Dale, I think you were number 10,000 on the 'ol post meter