Quote:
Originally posted by Dogfish:
Logging operations are required to leave a certain amount of debris in the new clearcuts for the reasons you stated. Some are "wildlife trees" for woodpeckers, other debris is left to supply the basic nutrients to go back into the soil.

One current development that has reduced our dependance on softwood trees for use as chips and fiber for the paper industry has been the increased use of hybrid cottonwood/ poplar. These trees are grown in the lowlands, primarily in riverbottom areas. Originally the harvest cycles were scheduled at 7-10 year harvests, but as laws were changed to allow for this timber industry to be treated more like agricultural crops, harvest cycles were were pushed out to 15 years to maximize yields.
That is EXACTLY what I find to be disturbing... all the debris left behind AND piled up at clear cuts. The process of converting woody debris into duff requires a moist environment, which is promoted by canopy cover. While it is nice that debris is being left behind, you have to realize that it will take longer for it to decompose than if it was in a natural environment.

As for leaving small stands of timber uncut, it seems to me that this practice doesn't work exactly as intended as quite a few of the trees left standing are typically small in diameter and thus subject to blowdown during windy conditions. Even some of the larger trees at the edge of the clearcut can get blown down. I would much rather see one solid clear cut rather than islands of trees in a clear cut area. Nobody wins when those trees get blown down.

I find the Populus sp. market to be interesting and was wondering what the status of genetic modification is. It seems like there is potential for growing genetically modified cottonwood/poplars that mature to market size quickly. Although it is just about impossibly to isolate a tree farm from spreading seeds, if the farm can be located in an area where there are no other Populus sp. present it could be advantageous to use a genetically modified plant.