Salvaging the Ecosystem after Salvage Logging

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.mtu.edu/news/stories/2015/january/salvaging-ecosystem-after-salvage-logging.html

[font face=Serif][font size=5]Salvaging the Ecosystem after Salvage Logging[/font]

Last Modified 8:52 AM, January 7, 2015
By Jennifer Donovan

[font size=3]January 6, 2015— After a forest fire burns a large swath across timberlands, logging companies often are not far behind. They come in to do what is called salvage logging—salvaging the timber that has not been completely destroyed by the fire.

It sounds like a good idea, since even the timber from burned trees can be used for lumber. Economic benefit can come from otherwise devastated land. Even the name has a warm, fuzzy ring to it: salvage logging.

…

Sometimes salvage logging operations leave the small branches and treetops on the ground. This material, called slash, helped ameliorate the erosion and sediment problem, the researchers found.

His team’s recommendations for best management practices for salvage logging include:

• Leave slash on the ground
• Break up long feller-buncher and skidder trails with ”water bars”—mounds of dirt that slow and divert runoff.
• Decompact the soil after heavy equipment is used.
• Consider replanting vegetation, which works better than slash because it roots in the soil.

…[/font][/font]

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2014.09.016

[enough]

1. Or maybe don't do "salvage" logging after fires?

Quote from the link>

Highlights

• Post-fire salvage logging increased soil compaction and decreased vegetative cover.
• Salvage logging greatly increased sediment production from more disturbed plots.
• Salvage logging did not consistently increase sediment production in larger swales.
• Salvage logging delayed post-fire recovery of vegetation and sediment production.
• Slash placed on skid trails reduced sediment yields but did not affect soil properties.

end quote>

[KT2000]

2. salvage logging is now done

to feed biomass burners which came about under the alternative energy program. Remediation such as this article suggests is surely not being done. Just more exploitation of our natural resources,