Pre-commercial thinning in Norway spruce-birch mixed stands can provide abundant forage for ungulates without losing volume production

•Pre-commercial thinning strategies simultaneously promote the growth of Norway spruce and provide forage for ungulates.•There was higher amount of forage in stand with no PCT compared to PCT stands.•Pre-commercial thinning didn’t influence on birch browsing.•Some version of PCT strategies can be implemented to increase the forage availability in forest landscape.