Apes 5.17 Clearcutting and Sustainable Forestry

Ecologically Sustainable Forestry

Forestry (using trees for lumber) that minimizes damage to ecosystem (habitats destruction, soil erosion, etc

Selective cutting/strip cutting

Only cutting some of the trees in an area (biggest & oldest) to preserve habitat (biodiv.) and topsoil

examples/effects of ecologically sustainable forestry

Using human & pack animal labor to minimize soil compaction from machinery ● Maximizes long-term productivity of land & preserves forest for future generations ● Replanting same species being logged

Fire supressionsion

the practice of putting out all natural forest fires as soon as they start

more dry biomass buildup

Putting out fires immediately leads to

fuel for large forests fires

stored nutrients trapped in dead biomass

dead trees= susceptible to disease and pest spread

Dead biomass building up acts as

Reduces air filtering and carbon storing services

Cutting trees down releases CO2 from decomposition

Consequences of deforestation

Slash and burn

Method of clearing land for agriculture by cutting trees and burning them releases CO2, N2O, and water vapor into the atmosphere(all CHGs that trap heat-causing global warming)

CHGs

Green house gases. Too much cause global warming.

Filtering air pollutants through stomata,

removal and storage of CO2 from atmosphere,

Habitat for organisms

Forest benefits

Lowers biodiversity - just hella single species trees - lower resilience

Consequences of tree plantations

Soil erosion-removes nutrition from organic matter

Loss of shade-increased soil and stream temperature

Flooding and landslides

Direct effects of clear cutting