4 ms·

Why do we want old growth forests over harvestable forests? Is there an ecological advantage

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
taway_6PplYu5 3y ago
Actually I've heard that the best ecological and economic outcome is to manage an old growth forest and log it selectively using patterns that mimic tree loss from non-human activity. Maximizing ecological advantage also maximizes economic advantage, even in the short-medium term.
- thaumasiotes 3y ago
  > I've heard that the best ecological and economic outcome is to manage an old growth forest and log it selectively using patterns that mimic tree loss from non-human activity I don't see how this is supposed to be accomplished. For that concept to make any sense, you'd need to prevent the tree loss from non-human activity, which is all but impossible to do. If you can't do that, then the existing pattern of loss already looks like "loss from non-human activity", and any logging you do will look like "a lot more loss than typical of non-human activity".
  - myshpa 3y ago
    > I don't see how this is supposed to be accomplished Peter Wohlleben has written about this approach. The Menominee tribe also practices a similar method; they only log sick or weak trees. However, because these are from old growth forests, the wood quality is superior to that of trees from monoculture forests. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Wohlleben https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Wohlleben https://e360.yale.edu/features/menominee-forest-management-logging https://e360.yale.edu/features/menominee-forest-management-l...
sdenton4 3y ago
Old growth forward have a range of incredible ecosystem benefits, including a big effect on river health. The 'Timber Wars' podcast was a six part story on the Pacific Northwest, including a lot of the history of the science on logging and forest health, as it evolved from the eighties through to today. https://www.opb.org/show/timberwars/ https://www.opb.org/show/timberwars/

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

Actually I've heard that the best ecological and economic outcome is to manage an old growth forest and log it selectively using patterns that mimic tree loss from non-human activity. Maximizing ecological advantage also maximizes economic advantage, even in the short-medium term.

thaumasiotes 3y ago
> I've heard that the best ecological and economic outcome is to manage an old growth forest and log it selectively using patterns that mimic tree loss from non-human activity I don't see how this is supposed to be accomplished. For that concept to make any sense, you'd need to prevent the tree loss from non-human activity, which is all but impossible to do. If you can't do that, then the existing pattern of loss already looks like "loss from non-human activity", and any logging you do will look like "a lot more loss than typical of non-human activity".
- myshpa 3y ago
  > I don't see how this is supposed to be accomplished Peter Wohlleben has written about this approach. The Menominee tribe also practices a similar method; they only log sick or weak trees. However, because these are from old growth forests, the wood quality is superior to that of trees from monoculture forests. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Wohlleben https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Wohlleben https://e360.yale.edu/features/menominee-forest-management-logging https://e360.yale.edu/features/menominee-forest-management-l...

sdenton4 3y ago

Old growth forward have a range of incredible ecosystem benefits, including a big effect on river health. The 'Timber Wars' podcast was a six part story on the Pacific Northwest, including a lot of the history of the science on logging and forest health, as it evolved from the eighties through to today. https://www.opb.org/show/timberwars/ https://www.opb.org/show/timberwars/