Why Forest Management practices are needed

Max Zink
11-3-11

If we did not have the forest management practices that we have today you would not see the same forest that is what you know and love. If the practices of the early 1900s were still used past what they were we would be without a large amount of the forest today. The practices back then were to cut down all the trees and not even plant new trees or do anything with the land. This would leave good land that could be used for growing new trees on it bare with nothing growing but grass. These days the practices used are sustainable and keep producing timber at rates that can be carried into the future. There is not many big clearcuts anymore, the big clearcuts have been replaced with smaller size cuts that don’t affect big areas of the landscape like they used to. There are also many ways that the cuts made help trees regenerate naturally like a seed tree cut, shelterwood cut, or cutting gaps in hardwood stands. These cuts provide the sunlight needed for certain species that require more sunlight than others.
There are many other things that forestry helps with such as watershed management, wildlife, preventing catastrophic wildfires, and recreation. Forestry helps in control the amount of sediment going into our drinking water and streams or lakes. By not harvesting near a stream or lake there should be minimal erosion and sediment that goes into the stream or lake.
Also forestry helps in providing habitat for wildlife. Thinning and harvesting generate situations that encourage the growth of food for wildlife species. Also there is a practice of leaving trees which may produce food or will die and become shelter for some bird species and other mammals. Forestry practices also take in account endangered plants and animals that need to be protected so there are buffers placed around these so they are not harmed by the act of logging.
Modern forestry practices help decrease catastrophic wildfires from happening. By cutting regularly in areas where catastrophic wildfires are prone to happen logging will reduce this chance by thinning out the stand and not letting the fires that do start not become large and out of control. By thinning it prevents the trees become stunted in growth and becoming bunched together and more death occurring so that these trees would fall to the ground and becoming fuel for a fire. With modern forestry practices these fuels are removed so as to not create a bigger problem for firefighters and to reduce the chance of spread.
Forests are also very important to the recreation industry. These recreation activities may include hiking, birdwatchers, skiers, hunters, and campers. Also since streams, rivers, and lakes are protected from excess logging this also provides great recreation for fishing and boating activities. All lot of forested area is also set aside for just recreation uses such as camping. These areas know as wildernesses cannot be logged so as to preserve the natural setting of nature. These are some of the things that forestry provides for nature.
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