Can Logging Prevent Forest Fires?
These Tools Are Often Used for Timber Production, but Also for Forest Restoration, Wildfire Mitigation, Wildlife Habitat Enhancement and Many Other Purposes...
These tools are often used for timber production, but also for forest restoration, wildfire mitigation, wildlife habitat enhancement and many other purposes. Logging itself doesn't prevent forest fires. ... But logging is a tool that can be used to reduce the fuels that make fire burn hotter and faster.
Does logging increase forest fires?
Logging geared only towards large tree removal, since it does not manage surface fuels, will increase fire hazard and subsequent fire severity (Morgan and others 2003).
How does logging contribute to forest fires?
Logging removes the mature, thick-barked, fire-resistant trees. The small trees planted in their place and the debris left behind by loggers act as kindling; in effect, the logged areas become combustible tree plantations that are poor wildlife habitat.
James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.
