Selective logging is not sustainable.

For a very long time, selective logging has been cited as an environmentally friendly alternative to clear cutting. However, increasing evidence is revealing that this is not the case. As such, I would like to instigate a debate on this matter. The first round is for acceptance as well as some arguments. The second, third and fourth rounds are for arguments and rebuttals. The final round is for drawing a conclusion. Definitions: Selective logging - The practice of removing only certain desired trees in an area, leaving the rest intact. Clear cutting - The practice of removing all trees in an area, selecting the appropriate wood afterwards. Sustainable - 'Our Common Future' definition Deforestation - the land use conversion of a plot of land from a forest to other uses. Let me now begin my arguments. Firstly, selective logging affects surrounding organisms. When trees are cut down, plants such as vines, lianas, strangler figs and parasites which rely on the felled tree will have to go as well. Moreover, felled trees will damage surrounding trees, as well as the undergrowth. (1) This reduces the biomass of the forest. If only trees of a certain species are targeted, their disappearance in that area will lead to a decrease on the biodiversity of the area. Many animals species in forests rely on a scarce food supply and the disappearance of one species of trees may cut off their main food supply. (1) The energy flow of the rainforest will be disrupted and lower in complexity. The resilience stability of the rainforest is lowered. Secondly, selective logging affects the microclimate of the clearing. The canopy prevents radiation loss, increases relative humidity and lowers wind speed. Without the canopy layer, sunlight can penetrate directly to the forest floor in the daytime, and heat loss will be faster at night. The diurnal range of temperature will be enlarged. The alteration of the habitat will render the clearing uninhabitable to the original inhabitants. At the same time, species that were originally unable to inhabit the area will invade the forest. For example, as the sunlight can reach the ground directly, the undergrowth will become much thicker. This change in ecosystem disrupts the ecological balance and pushes the ecosystem away from a state of equilibrium. (1) Direct exposure of the soil to sunlight also causes dries up the soil. The loss of litter also intensifies the rainsplash effect and leads to soil erosion in the clearing. The hydrological cycle is damaged as evapotranspiration is reduced and the soil water content is lowered. (1) Studies have shown that selectively logged forests are more prone to droughts and fires even after years of regeneration. (3) Thirdly, roads created will bring massive damage to the forest. Roads divide the forest into many segments, which affects the migration of animals. Many species of animals can only live along the margins of forests. (1) As the number of roads increases, these animals can breed at a faster rate than is normally allowed as they can also live along the roads. In fact, many logging companies use the increasing numbers of such species to 'prove' that they are not harming the environment. (4) However, this phenomenon is very destructive as the overbreeding of animals used to forest fringes and the depletion of those who prefer the interior will lower the biodiversity and the ecological integrity of the forest. (1) Perhaps most importantly, the introduction of roads improves the accessibility of the rainforest, thereby encouraging further exploitation of the forest. Many equatorial regions are rich in rainforest resources. These countries are usually poor. Unemployed and homeless people can follow the roads left behind from selective logging and open up the forest to live and cultivate there. (1) Roads also favour clear-cutting. For example, a 2006 study showed that selective logging increases the likelihood of forests being cleared at a later date. 16% of the selectively logged forests are cleared in a year, and a further 5.4% each subsequent year for another four years. (3) Finally, selective logging itself causes the logging of a giant number of trees. Every year, selective logging in the Brazilian Amazon clears an area of rainforest equivalent to the size of Connecticut. (2) Despite the many benefits it is thought to bring, selective logging is only the lesser of two evils - and one that will lead to the greater evil too. It is not good news for the biomes which contain half of our world's species among them. Sources: (1) HKDSE Interactive Geography 3 (my geography textbook at school) (2) http://news.stanford.edu... (3) http://www.pnas.org... (4) Strangely Like War: The Global Assault on Forests (Derrek Jensen and George Draffan, 2003) I hope this will be an interesting and fruitful debate!