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32 PalletCentral • July-August 2022 palletcentral.com By Glenn Meeks, Editor – Nature's Packaging Smart logging utilizes natural ecological factors for sustainable results. Sustainable Logging Practices F or some people, the words "sustainable" and "logging" simply do not go together. Historical logging practices were sometimes hard on forests and disrupted native ecosystems. Today, sustainable forestry practices that include logging and harvesting trees comfortably co-exists with the conservation of thriving forests. Sustainable Logging: The Beginning Historical logging practices began with the axe, manual saw, and manpower. ey were transformed by the introduction of powered machines. At first, as volumes of timber increased exponentially with these new capabilities, the harvesting practices remained tied to traditional practices for some time. e practice disrupted wildlife, native plant species, and the enjoyment of wild areas. While clearcutting is still practiced today, it is more controlled and meant to optimize renewal growth. As environmental and climate awareness began to rise, bitter confrontations with the logging industry became far too common. In 1972, the U.S. embarked on a new path. With the passage of the Clean Water Act, environmental policies were written into law across the nation. Local, state, and federal regulations emphasized healthy forests and responsible management. But logging couldn't simply stop. e industry supplied, and continues to supply, much-needed timber and other forest products to consumers around the world. e harvesting of forest products provided the economic foundation for communities across the country. Reconciling those competing needs resulted in the birth of sustainable logging practices. Old-style clear-cutting both destroyed forests and ended the economic viability of the land. Sustainable practices allow both to flourish. Sustainable logging practices benefit everyone, from the employees of logging companies to the campers enjoying a weekend in the woods. Sustainable forestry even has the potential to help mitigate climate change. Sustainable Logging Overview e main principle of sustainable logging is to balance the economic importance of forest products with the ecological importance of healthy forests. is requires a comprehensive strategy for every potential logging site. One way to approach sustainability is to design harvesting to mirror the effects of nature. Forests are altered by wind, fire, flood, and other natural events. Trees die and are replaced in forests with no human intervention. Sustainable forestry also depends on choosing harvesting sites wisely. Old growth forests that are not normally harvested commercially should be left alone, preserving ecosystems and habitats that have flourished in place. For land with a history of logging, sustainable logging begins with foresters learning as much as possible about the natural patterns and existing conditions of each tract of trees. iStockphoto.com/Tarcisio Schnaider

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