Similarly, new technologies and techniques in agriculture increase crop yields and slow expansion into other forested areas. Harrison Pennybaker began writing in He has written as a student and a journalist, specializing in politics, travel, arts and culture and current affairs.
He holds a Master of Arts in political science and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in political science. Related Articles Examples Of Deforestation. The Disadvantages of Deforestation. Natural Resources for People in the Savanna Grasslands. Advantages and Disadvantages of Afforestation. The Effects of Forest Degradation on Ecosystems. According to the Forestry Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FOA , the simple industrial processes involved in forest utilization can leave different ecosystems more vulnerable to invasive plants and animals.
FOA alludes to specific cases where invasive species replaced indigenous ant species as an indirect result of clearcutting procedures. The loss of even a few indigenous species can alter the entire balance of an ecosystem. It can take years before the ecosystem in question finds a new normal. Alterations in soil chemistry have been linked to invasive species according to the NWF, so the plants that humans and the local wildlife need may be indirectly affected by invasive species.
The NWF also points out that invasive species may fill niches formerly occupied by animals that were economically important to humans or nutritionally important to wildlife while they themselves may be useless. Invasive species may also introduce new diseases, which could affect humans and wildlife, according to the NWF. As Keisha Raines at Save the Sierra indicates, almost anything that removes a large number of trees is going to have some effect on carbon dioxide levels since trees function as effective carbon sinks.
Clearcutting on a large scale could have a significant impact on global climate change. According to the WWF, trees can essentially act as anchors for soil. Removing those anchors can make the soil more vulnerable to erosion. Raines also points out that removing trees during clearcutting can also take away the bacteria, worms, and fungi that maintain and treat the forest soil, and removing these organisms may also put other forest plants at an increased risk of illnesses.
The degradation of soil is one of the most pressing environmental issues facing society at present and clearcutting only contributes to it. According to Ebbetts Pass Forest Watch EPFW , while clearcutting is potentially economically beneficial for timber owners, contractors and employees do not receive the same benefits. The EPFW points to data that suggests that the recreation associated with national forests may bring in 31 times as much income as logging these same national forests in the United States, and recreation may yield as many as 38 times as many jobs.
As a result of clearcutting, a formerly vibrant forest can look diminished and sparse. The aesthetic value of forests has economic value since beautiful forests can increase the property value of a given area and attract tourists. The EPFW talks about how the natural beauty of the Sierra Nevada forests is a tremendous draw in terms for both tourists and people interested in relocating.
Recreation is one of the ways in which the habitat loss caused by clearcutting can intersect with other consequences of clearcutting since people interested in hunting or fishing for certain wildlife may lose the opportunity to do so as a result of clearcutting.
While the value of natural beauty can be difficult to quantify, the EPFW refers to statistics that suggest that scenic highways may bring in as much as 32, dollars per mile. While there certainly are many negatives to clearcutting, there are decided positives that can be very beneficial to ecosystems. According to the Sierra Logging Museum before a clearcut harvest is approved, several requirements must be met that include.
The association points out:. West of the Cascades, where eight out of 10 trees are Oregon's native Douglas-fir, forest landowners choose to clearcut because the Douglas-fir seedlings planted after harvest grow best in full sunlight.
In the drier, sunnier Ponderosa pine forests east of the Cascades, the forest canopy helps protect fragile seedlings from heat and frost, so clearcutting is less common.
Trees are usually harvested individually or in small groups. Thinning in western Oregon forests is typically done in overcrowded stands of trees.
Removing selected trees reduces the competition for sunlight, water and nutrients, helping the remaining trees stay healthy and grow faster. But when it comes to harvesting mature trees for timber west of the Cascades, clearcutting is more common than thinning. They will not grow well in the understory unless the overstory trees are very widely spaced. By creating a clearing with lots of sun exposure, clearcutting provides more ideal growing conditions for Douglas-fir seedlings planted after the timber is harvested.
Following harvest, Oregon law requires that trees be left as buffers along streams to protect water and fish habitat. And in the clearcut area, two trees or snags and two down logs per acre must be retained for wildlife habitat.
After harvest, seedlings must be planted within two planting seasons, which typically run January through April. Trees slow down water currents, preventing rill formation, this is why clear-cutting increases erosion. Leads to sedimentation and nutrient leakage to water bodies.
Interferes with the water cycle as trees consume and release moisture in the process of evapotranspiration. Raises water temperature in the riparian zones due to a lack of shade, which adversely affects the aquatic animals. Worsens the air quality. Trees enrich the atmosphere with oxygen and take carbon dioxide. Clear-cutting reduces this forest property.
Removes carbon sinks. Trees and forest soils accumulate carbon. When forests are cut, carbon is released, adding to global warming and climate change.
Spoils the scenery. Bare patches in forest landscapes look empty and are in no way appealing to the eye. Provokes slides. Tree roots hold the soil in place. After clear-cutting, the earth becomes loose, which often leads to sliding. May cause deforestation. Permanent forest cuts without regeneration may result in forest losses, land devastation, and desertification. Try now! Articles Recent articles. Case study. I Accept. First Name. Last Name. Company Name. Additional Info. I understand and agree to the Privacy Policy.
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