Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Cutting of Wood

Clear Cutting:

  
      Clear cutting is a controversial form of cutting tree's, the reason that this form of cutting is so controversial is because all the tree's are wiped out in an area due to this method. Clear cutting is directly linked to deforestation, destroying of natural habitats and contributes to global change. The standard form of clear cutting is not leaving a shred of vegetation. Clear cutting has many major negative impacts, the destruction of habitats and resources land. Over 95% of the forests in Nova Scotia are cut using the clear cut method, this is very damaging to the ecosystems in that region. The reason why so much of Nova Scotia's forests have been cut down is because of the lack of protection by the government and regional officials.



Clear cutting



Shelter Wood Cutting:


      Shelter wood cutting is a lot more environment friendly and is better for the ecosystem. Instead of all the tree's in an area being cut like clear cutting, in shelter wood cutting first the mature tree's area cut; this is stretched over a 10 year period of time. The main premise of shelter wood cutting is to cut tree's that are older, dieing or disease ridden first. This gives time for the younger tree's to get to a more mature age before they are cut. Cutting 40-50% of the forest canopy allows more sunlight to access younger tree's. Shelter wood cutting makes up 4% of all logging done in Canada.




Shelter wood cutting


Selective Cutting:


       Selective cutting is the most environmental friendly form of wood cutting. Unlike clear cutting and shelter wood cutting, for selective cutting you only cut certain tree's in an area. An example of this could be that you cut down every fifth tree. The reason this is the best form of cutting is because the ecosystem in which the cutting is taken place is not damaged to much. Also since less tree's are cut down that mean it is far better for the atmosphere and the amount of carbon dioxide which is released.The most common form of this is Single-Tree Selection, scatted tree's are individually marked and then later harvested.



 Selective wood cutting

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