Forests all over the world are precious for many reasons.  They are lungs for the Earth, recycling Carbon Dioxide into Oxygen.  They offer a wild space for the ecosystems that support life on this planet.  They are beautiful, and a key piece of our history and history.  And, of course, they are precious economically because they are harvested for consumer products, construction materials to house an ever-increasing population, and for making solid fuel. 

With climate change on the rise, special notice is being drawn to the thousands of acres of forested land that are cut down without any regard for future generations. By the end of this cruel deforestation process, barren land is left behind that cannot be used to grow anything at all.

Deforestation is not only cruel because it destroys scenery- it affects wildlife habitat that is destroyed in the process and causes massive soil erosion. Moreover, cutting a forest down is a one-time solution. Once the deed is done, the land will be worthless as the forest will not grow again.

The solution? Sustainable logging practices.

What Is Sustainable Logging?

The term “sustainable” refers to the idea of maintaining, continuing, and keeping. On the other hand, logging is all about harvesting timber for our use. When you combine the two you get “sustainable logging,” which is a system for caring for and managing the harvest of forests in a way that provides important resources without destroying forests.

While wood can only be obtained from woodlands, it is important to carry out the harvests sustainably so they do not ruin the gorgeous landscapes and wildlife habitats that make Maine and New Hampshire so special. Sustainable logging practices ensure that no part of the forest is overly affected in the long run, including soil, trees, water quality, wildlife, and undergrowth. This ensures that the forests are protected from diseases, wildfire, and pests so that they remain special and beautiful even years down the line.

Sustainable logging practices can only be achieved by ensuring people understand how important sustainability for our forests is. Individuals need forests to provide resources that can then be used to make a living. With this practice, future generations will be able to meet their needs and benefit from the forests we enjoy today. 

The Importance of Sustainable Logging Practices for Our Woods

In Maine and New Hampshire, we are lucky that our forests continue to thrive, and as a result many remote communities still depend to some degree on woodlands for their livelihood. However, if sustainable logging practices aren’t followed, this healthy state of affairs could quickly change in some of the following ways:

• Opportunities to access outdoor recreation for individuals of all ages could diminish without proper custodianship. 
• Biodiversity could diminish if forests become monocultures or are depleted. Biodiversity offers a range of benefits for us as a society, but also generally strengthens the ecosystems we live in.
• The beautiful Maine and New Hampshire landscapes could become less visually aesthetic and appealing, which would have significant economic impacts on the tourism that drives Maine’s economy.  This could also affect property values substantially and reduce the quality of life in both states. 
• Since forests take in environmentally harmful carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, any reduction to our forests increases the pressures on our climate towards warming. With the global climate becoming warmer because of the high greenhouse gas emissions this is a major concern for many citizens.
• Forests help keep the air clean from harmful gasses and dust particles. If we do not steward them properly, we will have lower air quality and be more vulnerable to air pollution.
• Woodland root systems help keep riverbanks stable while reducing soil erosion.  In cases where this hasn’t been accounted for, major losses of topsoil, water quality degradation, and ecological impacts have been recorded.

Understanding the importance of sustainable logging practices helps our society to successfully manage our forests as key resources.  We benefit in so many ways from our forests that anything other than a sustainable approach should be unthinkable. 

Sustainable Logging Is Key to Our Future

Sustainable logging practices will either be followed and ensure a green and verdant future for Maine and New Hampshire or they will be ignored and we may regret the consequences.  At Day Logging, we are committed to sustainable logging practices as a central tenant of our business.  We don’t just work here, we live here.  As invested Maine and New Hampshire residents, we are invested in the long-term health of our economy, ecology, and community.  If these are concerns you share, please consider choosing Day Logging to sustainably log your woodland, you can reach out to us today to start the process.