Managing and harvesting trees from forests. Flashcards
This is basically a tree plantation. The forest is managed so that all the trees are the same age. List all pros and cons.
Even age management.
Pros: easier to harvest trees since they are all the same age. Saves time and money and doesn’t require a highly trained workforce.
Cons: since all the trees are cleared at the same time there is an increased risk of erosion and loss of fertility of the forest soil that results; also, dramatic biodiversity loss when the forests are cleared.
In this management strategy, there are trees of many different ages in the forest. List all pros and cons.
Uneven age management.
Pros: trees are not cleared at the same time, Reducing erosion and loss of soil fertility; also, biodiversity is maintained due to the continual presence of trees in the forest.
Cons: more difficult to harvest trees since not all individuals are harvested at the same time; more expensive and time-consuming as a result; also, more training needed for employees to be able to discern which trees should be harvested.
In this management strategy, trees are specifically selected that are particularly valuable for harvesting; the rest of the trees in the forest are left in place.
Selective cutting.
Pros: Trees are not cleared at the same time, reducing erosion and lots of soil fertility; also, biodiversity is maintain due to the continual presence of trees in the forest.
Cons: More difficult to harvest trees since not all individuals are harvested at the same time; more expensive and time-consuming as a result; also, more training needed for employees to be able to discern which trees should be harvested.
Very similar to selective cutting but the trees that are selected are specifically the largest tallest and greatest volume trees. This leaves behind many trees to grow and fill in for those that have been cut. List pros and cons.
Highgrade
Pros: trees are not cleared at the same time, reducing erosion and loss of soil fertility; also, biodiversity is maintained due to the continual presence of trees in the forest.
Cons: more difficult to harvest trees since not all individuals are harvested at the same time; more expensive and time-consuming as a result; also, more training needed for employees to be able to discern which tree should be harvested.
Similar to high grade and selective cutting but the trees that are selected are specifically the oldest and most mature trees. As a general rule all mature trees are harvested leaving fewer trees behind than in the method above.
Seed tree.
Pros: trees are not cleared at the same time, reducing erosion and loss of soil fertility; also, biodiversity is maintained due to the continual presence of trees in the forest.
Cons: more difficult to harvest trees since not all individuals are harvested at the same time; more expensive and time-consuming as a result; also, more training needed for employees to be able to discern which tree should be harvested.
The vast majority of trees in an area that are cleared, but a few trees are left behind to function as seed factories to help speed up the regrowth of the forest.
Shelterwood
Cons: almost as bad as clear cutting with respect to erosion, soil fertility losses, and biodiversity loss, but the regrowth of the forest is faster and cheaper because people do not have to go to back in to replant a forest due to some trees being left behind for that purpose.
Pros: almost as easy and cost-effective as clear cutting since the trees are all the same age. Saves time and money and doesn’t require a highly trained workforce.
In this management strategy, every single tree in the forest is cut down and harvested at the same time.
Clear cutting.
Pros: easier to harvest since trees are all the same age. Save time and money and doesn’t require a highly trained workforce.
Cons: since all the trees are harvested at the same time there’s a route increased risk of erosion and a loss of fertility of the forest soil that results; also dramatic biodiversity loss for the forest is cleared.
In this management strategy, every single tree is cut and harvested in contours that follow the land topography; trees that are farther away from accessible roads are generally left alone.
Strip cutting.
Pros: easier to harvest trees and say are all the same age. It saves time and money and doesn’t require a highly trained workforce. Trees that are difficult to access are not harvested saving time and money.
Cons: Since all trees in the immediate area are harvested at the same time, there is increased risk of erosion and a loss of fertility of the forest soil that results; also, dramatic biodiversity loss when the forests are cleared.
How are most of the forest resources harvested in the US?.
Uneven age management/selective and high-grade.
