03/02/2017
Over time, forests can become very dense causing stress on the trees and understory vegetation due to the competition for sunlight, nutrients and water. Periodic timber sales can remove poor quality and diseased trees while freeing up resources for healthier trees to grow. In fact, many species require disturbances (windthrow, fire, timber harvesting) in order to regenerate new seedlings. Wildlife also benefit from the increased browse and cover that timber harvesting creates. Today's forestry practices are very different from the cut-over period of the late 1800s to early 1900s, using science and technology to grow and regrow healthier forests.
