Why is lumbering prevelant particularly in canada and what is lumbering?

Question

i need a very detailed answer the more lenghthy it is the better it is!thank you!

Answer 1

Lumbering is more often referred to as "logging" in Canada. Logging is the process in which trees are cut down for forest management and timber. Logging is controversial due to its potential environmental and aesthetic impacts.

There are 3 main methods for logging:

Tree-length logging

Trees are felled and then delimbed and topped at the stump. The log is then transported to the landing, where it is bucked and loaded on a truck. This leaves the slash (and the nutrients it contains) in the cut area where it must be further treated if wildland fires are of concern.

Full-tree logging

Trees are felled and transported to the roadside with top and limbs intact. The trees are then delimbed, topped, and bucked at the landing. This method requires that slash be treated at the landing. In areas with access to cogeneration facilities, the slash can be chipped and used for the production of clean electricity or heat. Full-tree harvesting also refers to utilization of the entire tree including branches and tops. [2] This technique removes both nutrients and soil cover from the site and so can be harmful to the long term health of the area if no further action is taken, however, depending on the species, many of the limbs are often broken off in handling so the end result may not be as different from tree-length logging as it might seem.

Cut-to-length logging

Big trees are felled, delimbed, bucked, and sorted (pulpwood, sawlog, etc.) at the stump area, leaving limbs and tops in the forest. Harvesters fell the tree, delimb and buck it, and place the resulting logs in bunks to be brought to the landing by the forwarder.



The Washington Iron Works Skidder in Nuniong is the only one of its kind in Australia, with engine, spars and cables still rigged for work. This method is usable for smaller timber on ground flat enough that forwarders can operate, but does not work well on steep slopes.

..Like mentioned above, logging is controversial but CAN have a postive impact on the environment...the following are a few reasons why it can be good:

1.removing damaged or diseased trees or both, and

2.opening up the canopy to promote growth of smaller, healthier trees. Branches, snags, and other non-marketable parts of the tree provide shelter for wildlife. Underbrush that would not otherwise grow due to lack of sunlight thrives, and is an important food source for browsing mammals.

3. Select cutting can improve the forest and bring to market trees that would otherwise decompose.

4. In the 19th and early 20th century, logged over areas were sometimes sold or donated to the state, or forfeited for back taxes. Following the maturation of new growth, usually of different tree species, the reclaimed land became the basis of certain outstanding recreation areas, including the White Mountain National Forest.

As to WHY it is so prevalent in Canada ... this really depends on what part of Canada you are talking about. In places such as BC (more prevalent),Alberta, Saskatchewan - logging is one of the main industries as they have lots of forests - also the kinds of wood coming out of these regions are unique and quite usefuly (Example: Redwood, Pine...etc). I believe that the logging industry has slowed down in the past few years because of a decrease in the price of lumber. It is also important to remember that many places in Canada rely on a number of other different industries such as Oil and Gas or other agricultural things.

Hope that helps :)

Answer 2

Lumbering is a term for the "lumber" industry, although it is more often referred to as "logging".

Canada has an abundance of natural resources, and softwood lumber is one of our largest exports. We shipped over twenty billion board feet of softwood lumber to the USA in 2005, according to the website listed below.

Because of the vast amounts of timber that we have and the abundance we send to the USA, many American lumber companies have lobbied the US government and imposed duties on lumber entering the States, which those duties have actually been found to be in contravention to the North American Free Trade Agreement that USA signed years ago.

Even though a world court ruled in Canada's favour on this issue, the Bush administration continued to illegally charge excessive duties on the imported lumber until 2005 when they finally agreed to comply with the NAFTA court ruling. Of course, the trade disagreement came with a high cost: 15,000 lost jobs in the BC forestry industry alone.

This is one of the reasons that "lumbering" is a big deal to Canada, as it has relied heavily on the sale of softwood lumber to US furniture manufacturers and the US construction industry.

Due to the disagreement from 2001-2005, many Canadian lumbering companies have looked for alternate markets to sell to, so that the USA cannot or will not have as big an impact on Canada's economy when some new lobbyists start poking at the next US president. This of course will mean higher prices for US consumers who will find shortages due to less Canadian lumber entering their country, and less profits for Canadian lumber companies since other markets are generally not as large to sell to, except perhaps China.