Logging

Logging can have a great impact in biodiversity in forests. There are both long term and immediate effects that must be considered to maintain a sustainable forest. Biodiversity is threatened due to the fact that many logging companies do not use sustainable methods, and there is illegal logging that occurs in many places. The immediate effects to biodiversity include things such as the alteration of habitats, the damage done by felling and moving trees, and construction of roads fragmenting habitats. The long-term effects to consider are things such as changes in the environment due to a reduced amount of carbon sinks, and the effect of the additional carbon in the atmosphere. Forests provide resources that are essential to our survival and the maintenance of biodiversity such as oxygen production, shelter, food, and fuel. Unsustainable logging can be detrimental to all of these. Though logging can be destructive to biodiversity in forests, not all logging is. The rainforest alliance works to supervise and maintain sustainable land use, and encourage companies to do the same. Products can be labeled as “Rainforest Alliance Certified” when they have been harvested using sustainable practices. This is an important mission, because according to the Rainforest Alliance, tropical biodiversity has decreased by 30% since 1992.They are working to avoid the continued loss of diversity. One thing to consider when thinking about the effect of logging on forest diversity is that some logging, if done correctly, can be beneficial to light-seeking species and organisms. There are occasions when logging is not done as a means of exploiting forest resources, but as a means of silviculture and forestry. Logging is a major factor in the depletion of diversity in forests and we need to participate in sustainable practices to allow future use of all resources and services that forests have to offer.

Sources:

Kuijk, Marijke Van., Francis E. Putz, and Roderick Zagt. Effects of Forest Certification on Biodiversity. Wageningen: Tropenbos International, 2009. Rainforest Alliance. Rainforest Alliance. Web. 4 May 2015.

Rainforest Alliance. "Rainforest Alliance." Our Work in Sustainable Forestry. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.

RAMP. "Impacts on Boreal Forests and Biodiversity." - Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program (RAMP). N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.