Logging: Good or Bad? (2024)

Logging, or the practice of cutting down trees for commercial purposes, can have both positive and negative effects on the planet, depending on various factors such as the scale, method, and location of logging operations.

Negative impacts of logging on the planet include:

1. Deforestation: Large-scale logging can lead to deforestation, which results in the loss of biodiversity, disruption of ecosystems, and the release of stored carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Ultimately, we (myself included) have affected our forest's ability to function as a Natural Climate Solution by rotating our inventory to shorter and younger plantations with less carbon density in pools such as the Medium Decay above-ground biomass pool comprised of dead and down trees horizontal or <45*. I am finding a correlation between age and Dead Organic Matter pools in my work and believe primary forests have more considerable value left alone than they do as quasi-managed forests.
2. Habitat Destruction: Logging can destroy habitats for various plant and animal species, leading to biodiversity loss and potential species extinction. The public should be aware of our lacklustre Monitoring and failed attempts at Compliance and Enforcement. Private industry operates at a frequency that the government cannot match. We have foresters who are coerced into writing SPs on blocks already padded up and being harvested, then there's the apparent abandonment of Waste and Residue surveys on remote settings and, frankly, egregious timber poaching around the province.
3. Soil Erosion: Clear-cutting forests can increase soil erosion, negatively impacting soil fertility and water quality. Continuous cover forestry can help, but to accomplish this, we need contractors to access 'better' equipment to match changing harvest systems and silvicultural treatments.
4. Disruption of Indigenous Communities: Logging can encroach upon and disrupt the territories and ways of life of Indigenous communities that depend on forests for their livelihoods and cultural practices.

However, logging can also have some positive effects when managed sustainably:

1. Economic Benefits: Logging can provide economic benefits to communities through job creation, revenue generation, and the production of wood products. We should be conscious of the economic benefit derived per cubic meter of harvest. In my experience, it varies significantly across geographies and timelines. The industrial logging complex works to liquidate forests under the notion that the more times you touch a log, the worse you are at doing it. This is good for multinational corporations but not for citizens and direct employment.
2. Managed Forests: Sustainable logging practices, such as selective logging and reforestation, can help maintain healthy forests and ensure their long-term viability. Our goal should unanimously be to increase carbon stocks over whole timelines through avoided emissions and improved carbon stocking via IFM/ emission removals. It's not difficult we want more trees, taller trees, and older forests. One man's managed forest is another's absenteeism. BC at large does not have managed forests, this is a total misnomer and often touted by biased members of echo chambers with a poor grasp on global forest operations. I would have faith in BC's managed forests if we didn't currently have a decline in Annual Allowable cuts in 95% of the province's Timber supply Areas. You can't have one with the other. Facetiously, it's like getting a haircut once a year, avoiding mirrors at every opportunity, and then proclaiming good hygiene because you got a buzzcut at Christmas.
3. Carbon Sequestration: Well-managed forests can act as carbon sinks, absorbing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thus helping mitigate climate change. If the juice is not worth the squeeze there should be no permitted logging. The outcomes from modelling tools such as CBM-CFS3, MGM, and FVS should be requirements before logging occurs on crown land. Quarterly financials are not correlated to carbon stocking.
4. Renewable Resource: Wood is a renewable resource, and sustainably managed forests can provide a continuous supply of timber and other wood products without depleting natural resources. COFI's CEO Mrs. Coady has a recent article in BIV that says in BC we utilize 'virtually' 100% of fiber. This could not be true given the "Do more with less" theme being pushed by the government. I'd also ask anyone who feels that way to walk a transect in a few cut blocks. I recall leaving thousands of cubic meters of merchantable timber on hillsides in various heli-logging operations... Acting like you're at the finish line guarantees you don't finish the race. Doing more means Mass Timber can replace other valued forest products, it means fibre is directed to longer-lived wood products, and it means waste and residue need to be taken seriously.

Overall, whether logging is "bad" for the planet depends on how it is carried out. Unsustainable logging practices can have severe negative consequences for the environment, but with proper management and regulation, logging can be done in a way that minimizes harm and even provides some benefits to the planet and society.

To support positive actions for forests, various types of data can be measured and monitored. Here are some key data points:

1. Forest Cover and Land Use Change: Monitoring changes in forest cover over time helps identify areas of deforestation, afforestation, and reforestation. Satellite imagery and remote sensing technologies can provide valuable data on forest cover changes. Currently, VRI absolutely sucks. Forest Inventory and Analysis is under-resourced. And we need more effort to reconcile the data that drives land use planning decisions.
2. Biodiversity: Assessing the diversity and abundance of plant and animal species within forests helps measure the health and resilience of ecosystems. This can involve monitoring species populations, habitat quality, and ecological interactions.
3. Carbon Sequestration and Storage: Quantifying the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed and stored by forests helps assess their role in mitigating climate change. This involves measuring carbon stocks in trees, soil, and biomass and estimating carbon fluxes between forests and the atmosphere. Programs such as UBC's Forest Carbon Management are great entry points for becoming educated.
4. Water Quality and Hydrology: Monitoring water quality, flow rates, and hydrological processes in forested watersheds helps assess the ecosystem services provided by forests, such as regulating water supply, filtering pollutants, and reducing erosion.
5. Soil Health and Fertility: Assessing soil properties, nutrient levels, and microbial activity helps determine the health and productivity of forest soils. This can involve measuring parameters such as pH, organic matter content, nutrient concentrations, and soil moisture. Not only are we burning prized waste and residue fibre, but in doing so, we are decreasing each site's Net Primary Production/ increasing site degradation. We need the opportunities to use biochar in large-scale soil amendments while reducing the damages to soils caused by the more prolific, hotter, and destructive fires creating thousands of hectares of Hydrophobic soils in the province annually.
6. Forest Management Practices: Evaluating the effectiveness of forest management practices, such as logging techniques, reforestation efforts, and conservation measures, helps inform decision-making and improve sustainability. It's not going well, and you'd be hard-pressed to reasonably demonstrate any other perspective. "Hey Google, tell me about Bowron valley."
7. Community Well-being and Livelihoods: Assessing the socio-economic impacts of forest management on local communities helps ensure that conservation and development efforts are socially equitable and beneficial. This can involve measuring income levels, employment opportunities, access to resources, and cultural well-being. BC should aspire to be more like Quebec in this regard. The only economic growth I can really say there is for contractors in the forest industry is within the context of Wildfire Mitigation & Supression.
8. Policy and Governance: Monitoring policy frameworks, regulations, and governance mechanisms related to forest management helps evaluate their effectiveness in promoting sustainable practices, protecting forest ecosystems, and addressing social and environmental concerns. A friend of mine in the Chief Forester's office explained it to me like this: "Imagine renovating a century-old home where we require modern finishings but have to build it off of the old plumbing and electricals." I am not the only one who daydreams of aggressive tenure change.

By measuring and analyzing these and other relevant data, stakeholders can make informed decisions, implement effective strategies, and monitor progress toward achieving positive outcomes for forests and the environment.

In the context of Coastal British Columbia, several specific actions can be taken to support the health and sustainability of the region's forests and coastal ecosystems:

1. Protect Old-Growth Forests: Advocate for the protection of old-growth forests, which are ecologically valuable and support diverse plant and animal species. This can involve supporting policies and initiatives to conserve old-growth stands and implement measures to prevent their destruction. Future forestry operations will look at reduced impact logging such as single stem "snap and fly," salvage, and otherwise, just leaving it be.
2. Implement Sustainable Logging Practices: Encourage adopting sustainable logging practices that minimize ecological impacts, such as selective harvesting, reduced-impact logging techniques, and ecosystem-based management approaches. This includes promoting certification programs like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, which ensures that timber products come from responsibly managed forests. Their requirements are progressing in a way that looks like timber origination will be looked at from a carbon lens. From a carbon stocking and emissions perspective, "Was the juice worth the squeeze."
3. Restore Riparian Areas: Restore and protect riparian zones along rivers, streams, and estuaries to maintain water quality, prevent erosion, and provide habitat for aquatic species. This can involve planting native vegetation, implementing buffer strips, and controlling invasive species. I suggest measuring to prevent future blowdown by inventorying boundary trees for height/diameter ratios and prescribing wind-firming treatments based on susceptibility. I find it odd that the Vancouver Island University woodlot can do it, but Western Forest Products can't.
4. Monitor and Mitigate Climate Change Impacts: Monitor the impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems and implement measures to mitigate these impacts. This may include enhancing forest resilience through adaptive management practices, restoring degraded habitats, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from wildfire events.
5. Support Indigenous Land Stewardship: Recognize and support the traditional land stewardship practices of Indigenous peoples, who have lived in harmony with Coastal BC's forests and coastal ecosystems for millennia. This involves respecting Indigenous rights, engaging in collaborative decision-making processes, and integrating Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into land management strategies.
6. Promote Conservation and Protected Areas: Advocate for the establishment and expansion of conservation areas, parks, and protected areas along the coast to safeguard biodiversity, preserve critical habitats, and maintain ecosystem integrity. This includes supporting initiatives to designate new protected areas and improve the management of existing ones.
7. Reduce Marine Pollution: Take action to reduce marine pollution and protect coastal waters from contamination. This can involve supporting policies and initiatives to decrease plastic pollution, improve waste management practices, and mitigate the impacts of industrial activities on marine ecosystems. In managed forests, this looks like limiting in-block roads and site degradation, improving the effectiveness of Riparian Management Areas, and maintaining continuous forest cover.
8. Promote Sustainable Tourism: Encourage sustainable tourism practices that minimize negative impacts on coastal ecosystems, such as promoting low-impact recreational activities, supporting local eco-friendly businesses, and raising awareness about conserving coastal environments. www.atvadventure.ca,

By taking these and other specific actions tailored to the unique characteristics and challenges of Coastal British Columbia, stakeholders can contribute to the conservation and sustainable management of the region's forests and coastal ecosystems.

It's taken me over a decade to buy into and come to some of these conclusions and I hope I can continue to develop as should you.