| B.C.'s chief forester sets harvest levels for each of
the province's 71 management units every 5 years to ensure
that harvest levels reflect the latest science, information,
practices and policies. If the chief forester expects
the annual harvest will not change significantly the new
harvest level can be postponed for up to 5 more years.
Harvesting Methods Used in B.C.
Clearcut systems remove
most of the trees from an area, leaving patches of trees
and buffers to protect other forest values.
Seed tree systems support
natural regeneration by leaving trees with the most
desirable traits to supply seed for the next generation
of trees.
Retention systems leave
more than half of the trees individually or in groups.
Patch cut system use small
cuts of less than one hectare.
Shelterwood systems harvest
trees in stages over a short period of time so the new
forest grows under the shelter of the existing trees.
Selection cutting systems
remove timber as single trees or in small groups at
relatively short intervals, repeated indefinitely. Since
the higher-value trees are usually selected, care is
needed to protect overall forest quality.
Clearcutting
Resource professionals in B.C. usually choose clearcutting
because it is more efficient and less disruptive for
harvesting and regeneration, it is safer for forest
workers and can be the best way to deal with pests or
disease. Clearcutting also leads to forests that are
the same age and cover different sized areas, not unlike
the result of natural disturbances such as wildfire.
Other harvesting techniques are used in specific situations
such as protecting scenic vistas along popular routes
or in interior Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine forests
where soils are dry and selection harvesting maintains
shade to avoid losing moisture.
When used appropriately, clearcutting is less disruptive
because once the site is regenerated, it is left to
grow freely until the new growth is ready to harvest
again in 60 to 80 years. Debris such as stumps, branches
and fallen trees are left on the forest floor after
harvesting to maintain biodiversity and to provide habitat
for plants, animal and insects and nutrients for soil
development.
While the average size of clearcuts in B.C. has dropped
to 23 hectares (57 acres) in 2002 from 43 hectares (106
acres) in 1988, concerns remain about visual appearance.
B.C.'s scenery is critical to tourism and to our way
of life and, as a result, forest specialists take great
care to ensure harvesting does not compromise visual
values. Today, logging activities are often not apparent
from roads or waterways.
For more information
Articles from Patrick Moore's website:
Biodiversity
in a Clearcut?
Clearcutting
- Right or Wrong?
See
Reforestation
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