It is important to consider pollution prevention measures during the planning stage to avoid or reduce some of the environmental impacts of forestry activities. Seasonal factors and road and harvest unit layouts can cause significant environmental effects if not addressed with pollution prevention techniques. Road Construction and Management . Roadways can significantly affect forest habitats. The environmental impacts of road construction and management include erosion, soil and vegetation loss, dust generation, and stream sedimentation.
Wise construction can reduce or eliminate some of the environmental effects of road construction.
Timber Harvesting . Wise harvesting practices can reduce or eliminate the environmental effects of timber cutting. The impacts from harvesting include stream sedimentation and temperature elevation, soil and water contamination from hazardous materials, dust generation, habitat destruction, and loss of forest area. Since pesticides may be toxic, they must be mixed, transported, loaded, and applied properly and their containers disposed of properly to prevent release to soil, groundwater, and surface water. Integrated Pest Management plans can significantly reduce reliance on chemical products.