⏳ Estimated Reading Time: 4 - 6 minutes

Describe the effect of clearcutting on forests.

Forestry

Forestry, the process of growing trees for human use, is also a type of agriculture.

Forests are the most productive ecosystems that the land can support, and a large amount of land worldwide is occupied by forests. They are self-sustaining, conserve biodiversity, moderate regional climates, prevent erosion, store carbon and nutrients, and provide recreational opportunities.

Around 30% of the land on Earth is forest. Despite all of this, forests are being destroyed at a rate of over 7 million hectares/year. Between 1960 and 1990, 20% of tropical forests were converted to other uses.

a timelapse gif showing the clearcutting of the amazon over time — **Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon from 1984-2012. You can see the forest changes from dark green forest to light green agricultural lands.**

The Oxford Dictionary defines deforestation as “the permanent clearance of a forest, usually rapidly by cutting or burning over a large area.” Deforestation is the removal of a forest and replacing the forest with another ecosystem, usually one that benefits humans immediately. You would think that most deforestation occurs when forests are cleared for timber, but most deforestation is actually caused when forests are converted into pastures and agricultural land.

Clearcutting

Hill is partially covered with lush green trees and the other part is barren, likely due to clearcutting. — **Clearcutting can lead to visual scars on the land that can take decades to be repaired.**

Clearcutting is a harvest method that is widely used in commercial timber operations. It involves cutting down all the trees in a forest or a section of forest at once and is cost-effective but creates a fragmented landscape with barren areas left behind after harvesting has taken place.

Clearcutting has been widely adopted by timber companies due to its ease of harvest and higher profits but is the most controversial of the different timber harvesting methods. While public opinion is mostly against clearcutting, this type of harvesting provides the lowest cost to consumers when it comes to forest products.

Some effects of clearcutting are:

❌ higher soil, air, and water temperatures

❌ destroy habitats, lowering biodiversity

❌ increased soil erosion, causing landslides and flooding

❌ release large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere

❌ affect the local and global water cycle, altering the precipitation patterns and water availability

❌ removes a carbon sink

❌ diminish aesthetic and recreational value of the land

Timber harvesting companies make every effort to replant harvested areas to help hasten the growth of new forests. Many people cite this effort as “self-serving” because the harvesting companies will harvest these new trees as soon as they are mature enough to provide a profit.

Essential Knowledge

Clearcutting can be economically advantageous but leads to soil erosion, increased soil and stream temperatures, and flooding.

Slash and Burn

Fire burning in a banana plantation. Small flames are consuming dry leaves and debris on the ground. — **Slash and burn farming is often used by farmers in developing nations.**

To provide land for pastures and agriculture, humans usually cut, then burn, the forests using a method called slash and burn, which is often used by tropical-forest root-crop farmers, animal grazers, and dry-rice cultivators in various parts of the world.

Some effects of slash and burn are:

✅ improved temporary soil fertility by adding nutrients from the ash and reducing weeds and pests

❌ Deforestation

❌ erosion

❌ biodiversity loss

❌ increased greenhouse gas emissions

❌ affect the local and global climate by altering the water cycle

❌ affect the local and global climate by altering the carbon cycle

❌ altering the albedo of the land surface

Deforestation is an ongoing problem, especially in developing nations. Some developing nations encourage and pay their citizens to move away from overcrowded cities to forest land, which then must be cleared for agriculture and livestock. The displaced people depend on forests for their livelihoods, but they do not use the forests in a sustainable way.

Satellite view of Brazilian Amazon, from space. Red markers are prominent and mark locations of slash and burn farming. — **Slash and burn deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon as seen from space.**

The United States has specific rules and regulations about timber harvesting, but poorer countries do not have the luxury of protecting their forests like we do. As the human population continues to increase, the pressure on the forests of the world will continue to increase.

Essential Knowledge

Forests contain trees that absorb pollutants and store carbon dioxide. Cutting and burning trees releases carbon dioxide and contributes to climate change.

AP Exam Tip

You should know that forestry is a type of agriculture.

[CC BY-NC-SA 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION - INTENDED ONLY FOR USE WITHIN LESSON.