Careful Logging Can Reduce Environmental Impact by Half
Copyright 2000, Environmental News Service
August 23, 2000
WASHINGTON, DC, August 23, 2000 (ENS) - A new study has found that reduced impact logging saves both trees and money when compared to traditional logging methods. With reduced impact logging, foresters minimize ecological damage by doing an inventory of trees before the harvest, cutting only those that are mature. They also map the harvesting process in advance so felled trees do minimal damage. Roads and skid trails are planned to take up as little space as possible. The study, done in the Eastern Amazon region of Brazil, shows that reduced impact logging disturbs about half as much land as traditional methods. Researchers found that the cost of reduced impact logging is 12 percent less than that of conventional logging. The study, "Financial Costs and Benefits of Reduced-Impact Logging in the Eastern Amazon," was conducted by the Tropical Forest Foundation (TFF) and the U.S. Forest Service, in collaboration with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Center for International Forestry Research.
"Without question, these practices are ecologically and environmentally friendly," said Keister Evans, executive director of TFF. "Damage to the forest is minimized while timber harvest yields are usually increased." The study found that 38 trees out of every 100 were fatally damaged in conventional logging, compared to 17 out of 100 trees in reduced impact logging. The ground area disturbed was 60 percent greater in conventional logging compared to reduced impact logging. There was 78 percent less timber waste on the typical reduced impact logging site. Because of the success of the reduced impact logging program in Brazil, TFF has begun programs in Guyana and Brazil, Indonesia and the Asia Pacific region. A separate program for Africa is under consideration. In each timber region, TFF will do a similar cost and benefit analysis.