<html><head></head><BODY bgcolor=3D"#FFFFFF"><p><font size=3D2 = color=3D"#000000" face=3D"Arial">Geza Vamos writes:<br><br>> From a = community perspective we must reduce overcutting, so a forest<br>> = canopy is always manintained on a site ie the rate of cut does not = exceed<br>> the growth rate of the trees. This has been the law = in several European<br>> countries for 100 years. To some it = just makes sense, if you cut too fast<br>> you have lower harvest in = the future as your stocks are depleted, others<br>> (South Sweden) = learnt from the experience of destroying their forests with<br>> = overcutting. Secondly we replace clearcuts with single tree = selection,<br>> group selection, and strip cut shelterwoods because = of soil erosion, loss<br>> of soil microorganisms essential to = healthy tree growth, and to maintain<br>> timber quality trees = growing in a small opening grow tall, and not at an<br>> excessive = rate which deminishes timber quality, in exchage for sheer<br>> = voulume.<br><br>There is a big difference between whether you are = "overcutting" and the type of silviculture that is used. Most = countries have laws that required sustainable management, that is, not = overcutting on a volume basis. All European countries, and all other = countries harvesting coniferous species, employ some form of = clearfelling (clearcutting) as the best way to both harvest and = regenerate most of these forest types. Single tree selection is seldom = suitable for conifers, while it is often suitable for broadleaf species. = The argument that it is better to grow trees slowly, in the shade, to = improve wood quality, is seldom valid. Trees grow tall when they come up = as an even-aged stand, as they are competing among each other. I believe = it is more important to focus on biodiversity both at the stand and = landscape level, rather than insisting that a certain silvicultural = system is always better than another. I am in Australia now, where I = have seen examples of selective logging that leave 30% of the stand = behind and it is called "shelterwood". The trouble is, the = species of eucalypts that are desirable for timber are shade intolerant = and do not require shelter, it just stunts their growth. This results is = shift to non-desirable, shade tolerant species and a forest that is = nothing like the original one. The real reason 30% of the canopy is = retained is for aesthetic i.e. visual, purposes, yet it is rationalized = as shelterwood.<br>By all means we must harvest on a sustainable basis, = but this should not be confused with the method of harvest, or the = visual aesthetic which often has nothing to do with ecology or science. = <br><br>Cheers<br><br>Patrick Moore, GREENSPIRIT<br><font = color=3D"#0000FF"><u>http://www.greenspirit.com</u><font = color=3D"#000000"><br>May the Forest be with you!<br><br>snail = mail<br>4068 West 32nd Avenue<br>Vancouver BC, CANADA V6S = 1Z6<br>(604) 221-1990 phone/fax<br>e-mail <font = color=3D"#0000FF"><u>pmoore@rogers.wave.ca</u><font = color=3D"#000000"><br><br><br><br></p> </font></font></font></font></font></body></html>
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