Do you believe that humans can harvest forest resources in an environmentally friendly way?

Question

Or, should national forests be left in

their natural state in which resources are not used to benefit humans? To which side are

you inclined?

Answer 1

They can be harvested in a friendly way. They just have to plant enough trees to equal the number that they cut down. It's just humans harvest forest for land and crop harvesting instead, so they never want or feel the need to grow trees back in. That's one of the main reasons, forests have been destroyed, because humans need more land for themselves.

Answer 2

It is definitely possible to harvest forests in an environmentally friendly way. There is an organization called Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Nearly all of the timber that you can purchase in the United States from stores such as Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. are stamped with SFI.   SFI program participants practice sustainable forestry on all the lands they

manage. They also influence millions of additional acres through the training of loggers and foresters in best management practices and landowner outreach programs. SFI also deals with timber grown outside of the United States.

All states also have what are known as BMPs or Best Management Practices which are standards of water and soil quality that loggers must comply. Standards include riparian buffer size, road construction and maintenance, soil disturbance, and many others. If loggers are found to be in violation of these standards they face very heavy fines. In addition to these fines when ever a logger breaches these standards their name,  which standard was breached, and how long it took the logger to set things right are placed on a list. This list is sent monthly to all of the lumber and pulp mills within the state. If a logger breaches these standards to many times ( I have heard about one logger who did it twice) the mills will refuse to accept timber from him or her.

Many universities also offer classes which loggers can attend to help them learn better ways to log which are easier on the environment. Once a certain number of classes are attended the logger gets the title Top Logger and receives more money from the mills for their timber. The education is continuous and a certain number of classes must be attended each year to remain on the list.

I really could go on and on about this as I love forestry and logging. My father was a logger and I have worked in the woods as well. Believe me their are perhaps no group of people who wish to harvest trees in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner than loggers. After all it is our profession and we wouldn't want to be out of jobs.

Here are two very good websites which you can explore and learn even more.

http://www.sfiprogram.org/

http://www.safnet.org/

The second website is the Society of American Foresters. This organization has a nationwide test which foresters must pass and complete before most companies will hire. They also require continuing education for its members. In South Carolina for example one cannot create management plans, or contracts without having passed this exam and meeting the SAF continuing education requirements.

If you have any other questions or anything please feel free to contact me.