by
John F
Logging the World Over
Issues: Logging, Environment
Logging has been an American pastime; beginning with the preliminary settlements along the Atlantic coast it has now impacted every state in the Union. The nature of the American economy craves for wood products. Construction materials, paper, and the like fuel our technological advance and domestic contentment.
Fortunately, some of America's expanding demand for such products has been met by Tree Farms, which are based on the idea that wood is a crop. The goal is to promote the growth of renewable forest resources through the harvesting of trees in controlled environments, rather than natural ecosystems. Despite the presence of these farms, the investment in time and money is not always deemed worthwhile by wood consumers.
As a result, forests are at a paucity in our great nation, especially old growth (or ancient) forests. According to the Department of Natural Resources, ancient forests are defined by age, structural characteristics, and relative lack of human disturbance. These forests are essentially free from great disturbances, contain old trees (generally over 120 years old), large snags, and downed trees. When European settlers first reached America, the ancient forests sprawled across the continent, a seemingly endless resource of 500 year old tress. About five percent of the estimated one billion acres of original American forests now remain. As we continue to devastate these microcosms of what once was, we do damage on multiple layers. Future generations may lose the opportunities to meander through towering conifers, or camp underneath the lofty canopy of giants. Countless numbers of plant and animal specie lose habitat, and humans, in turn, lose a member of the their environment. Perhaps most importantly, forests accumulate carbon, according to a study performed by the University of Antwerp. Young forests maintain a a slightly positive balance between carbon dioxide input and carbon dioxide output (caused by decomposition of organic matter). Ancient forests, however, take in excess carbon by storing it in wood and in the soils, for a positive net accumulation of carbon, while releasing oxygen to the surrounding environment. Even now, when it almost seems that America has become environmentally conscious, what little ancient forest that remains is not entirely protected by the government, and old growth logging continues to occur in the Pacific Northwest and down into the Sierras.
The methods used to log are often devastating, despite some governmental regulations. Sediment transport has been a long term problem with logging. When the logging disrupts the natural soil configuration, a substantial amount of sediment gets washed down stream, impacting a broad range of habitat. Erosion away from water is a crucial problem as well because hillsides clear-cut by logging companies must remain open to the elements. When soil is left unprotected from the sun, it will become arid, and be vulnerable to erosive forces such as wind and water. Furthermore, when soil is left exposed to sunlight it will lose productivity. As a result, the saplings planted after a clear cut are in a sub-par environment.
Logging has just as great an impact upon biotic systems in an environment. Clearcutting and timber road construction have led to widespread forest ecosystem fragmentation, which causes imbalances in many precarious environments. Species extinction is just one of the many byproducts of logging.
In the past, some presidents have taken note of the irreplaceable treasures that are forests. In 2001, the U.S. Forest Service adopted the Roadless Areas Conservation Rule. This administrative rule was designed to protect the last remaining wildlands in America's national forest system. Around one third of the National Forests System's total acreage was put off-limits to virtually all road building and logging, which had devastated countless acres of America's wilderness through such practices as clearcut logging and extensive road building. Unfortunately, the Bush administration overturned the rule, once again leaving vast tracts of American forest open to destructive practices.
Currently, it is more important than ever for government officials, like you, to support the dwindling forests of America. The Act to Save America's Forests was first introduced to Congress in 1996, but is yet to be approved. The Act, if passed, will end clearcutting on federal lands, and logging will be completely banned in the "last core areas of forest biodiversity." (From The Act to Save America's Forests) These areas will include ancient forests, roadless areas, and riparian zones, to name a just a few. The Act will not completely shut down the American logging industry, as a limited amount of ecologically compatible logging will be allowed outside of the core areas. It is crucial for the government to approve such legislation, or else we may lose our wilderness forever.
Logging is not only a problem in America. Across the globe, ancient forests are disappearing, and worldwide, only ten percent of forests are considered ancient. While we in America can do little to prevent this logging, we can take some stand. Right now, it is considered legal by the American government to import illegally sourced wood products. Additionally, America is currently one of the leading consumers of illegally logged timber, according to the Environmental Investigation Agency. This has crushing results. When wood is bought illegally, no revenue goes to the country of origin. When this occurs, the country loses profit, and is spurred to clear more forests to make up for lost revenue. As a result, many countries, including Congo, Vietnam, Laos, and Honduras, convert their ancient forests into kitchen tables and hard wood floors. The United States, as well as other industrialized nations, must change their don't-ask-don't-tell consumer policy. This change must begin with the conscientious work of government officials like you.
Henry David Thoreau once said, "In wildness is the preservation of the world." It is the responsibility of the American government to lead the fight against over exploitation of both the nation's and the world's forests. If not, we may lose the final five percent of America's vast forests, and in turn, the world as it was meant to be.