Impact Summaries
Ecological Summary:
The greatest ecological impact of clear-cut logging in North America occurred at the turn of the nineteenth century. Since then, foresters have gained a greater understanding of reforestation, best management practices and wildlife habitats. With proper forest management, clear-cutting is now an integral part of a forest’s biodiversity.
Economic Summary:
Clear-cut logging is the most financially efficient method of forest management because the greatest volume of wood is harvested at one time. Clear-cutting also requires fewer logging roads because it relies mainly on a cable logging system for transporting timber from the stump to the loading yard. Cleared sites are also less expensive to prepare for planting seedlings which regenerate faster than natural regeneration.
Aesthetic Summary:
The greatest objective to clear-cutting is the impact it has visually. No one wants to drive through a forest and see bald spots on the side of a mountain. But the visual impact of clear-cut logging can be predicted and reduced with the use of GIS. Knowing the view shed of public roads can help forest managers select future clear-cuts with the least visual impact.
No comments:
Post a Comment