But like so many issues in forestry, habitat conservation is far more complex than it seems. The truth is logging can actually improve conditions for wildlife by providing a diversity of habitat . For instance, most of us have heard clearcuts described as barren and lifeless deserts. Well, nothing could be further from the truth. The brush that grows in areas cleared by logging provides an important food source for elk,deer, bear, moose and dozens of other species.
Many birds prefer cleared areas over closed forests for nesting and feeding.
Over time, dense stands of young conifers establish in clearcuts to provide valuable cover from predators like cougar and wolf. And as a second growth forest matures, it provides habitat for hundreds of species that require a closed forest environment to survive. The myth that logging is detrimental to animals is not only unfair, it's dangerous. If we ever did abandon forestry to protect wildlife, we'd have to replace the economic activity it generates with something else. It might be agriculture, industrial manufacturing, hydro-electric or nuclear power projects.