As has been noted – monoculture tree planting after clear cutting doesn’t produce a healthy forest – and the timber companies know this, which is why they prefer uncut, mature forest rather than returning to areas re-planted 30 or 40 years ago, even when those areas are more accessible or closer to the mills. In the foothills west of Calgary, where I have lived my whole life, it isn’t hard to recognize the areas logged 50, and even 100 years ago to build the booming town and then city – the forest that grew back still is more sparse, more stunted, drier, and less ecologically varied and vibrant than undisturbed areas – or indeed than areas burned by fire more recently. Clear-cutting is cost effective for the timber company, as long as they can keep moving on to virgin forest, but highly destructive to the long-term forest ecology.
As has been noted – monoculture tree planting after clear cutting doesn’t produce a healthy forest – and the timber companies know this, which is why they prefer uncut, mature forest rather than returning to areas re-planted 30 or 40 years ago, even when those areas are more accessible or closer to the mills. In the foothills west of Calgary, where I have lived my whole life, it isn’t hard to recognize the areas logged 50, and even 100 years ago to build the booming town and then city – the forest that grew back still is more sparse, more stunted, drier, and less ecologically varied and vibrant than undisturbed areas – or indeed than areas burned by fire more recently. Clear-cutting is cost effective for the timber company, as long as they can keep moving on to virgin forest, but highly destructive to the long-term forest ecology.