Environmental
Impact

Young Trees Increased Metabolism
Insures the Future of Clean Air

According to the NC State College of Forest Resources,
a young pine tree produces three times more oxygen and uses three times more carbon dioxide than a mature tree.

Young trees also draw more water out of the ground than mature trees.  Consequently, young trees release more purified moisture into our atmosphere.

Periodic Harvest Provides Greater Diversity

Harvest of timber crops by logging followed by replanting is an essential part of the concept behind forest management.  Through forest management, the occurrence of forest fires is reduced, disease is controlled, and wildlife habitat is more diverse. Targeted logging and periodic harvest removes dead and dying trees, which are a fire hazard.  Tree population is kept at optimum levels for health and disease control.  A greater diversity of wild creatures are provided habitat than in "untouched" forests.

Maintaining a healthy balance of nature can not always be
left up to nature. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, in a public statement, said "In many instances, the proper habitat manipulation to benefit a particular wildlife species may require some road or firebreak construction to implement management prescriptions such as prescribed fire, timber harvest or timber stand improvements."

Likewise, the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries passed a resolution stating, in part, "These misguided policies
[intended to reduce or eliminate forest management practices] are harmful to wildlife and the management of wildlife in general. Policies that ban the harvest of timber are particularly devastating to grouse and woodcock which are dependent upon the new growth resulting from timber cutting."

Management of Forest Stands: Silviculture

Forests provide wood, clean water, clean air, wildlife habitat, recreation and beauty.  However, without management, forests degenerate and are prone to destruction by wildfire, disease, and insects.  Through forest management, known as silviculture, forests can and do remain viable, life-giving entities for both man and wildlife.

Management techniques--which include harvesting, thinning, prescribed burning and other methods--affects the composition of the forest, the tree density and the stage of succession of the given forest.

Knowledge of succession is important to good forest management and encouragement of biodiversity.  In the first year, after clean-cutting or forest fire, a field is dominated by annual grasses and weeds.  This type of habitat supports birds, butterflies, and small wild animals.  After two or three years, perennials become more prevalent, and larger animals begin to move into the area.  After 7 to 10 years, pine seedlings have sprouted and grown so that deer and large animals are provided with cover, as well as food sources.  Hardwood tree seedlings have also sprouted, but it will take a longer time for these slow-growing trees to dominate the area.  Nevertheless, hardwoods will virtually take over a forest over a period of time through shading out and crowding of the pine trees.

With this knowledge and good management practices, our forests and timberlands can provide suitable habitat for a diversity of wildlife, help us keep our water and air clean, and provide us with the ingredients for more than 5000 household products.

Silviculture makes sense.