Gilbert says his study shows there is a need to take wind into account when designing cutblocks in the Kluane area. He estimates that trees are not sheltered from the effect of the prevailing winds until they are at least 30 metres away from the edge of the forest. If we are moving towards a forestry system where more patches are left in the cutblocks, you have to ask what good they are doing and why you are leaving them. Smaller cutblocks that do not catch as much wind might be something to look at. The amount of windfall also could be reduced by orienting the faces of the cutblocks to minimize exposure to the prevailing wind.
Single trees have little chance of surviving on their own.
The shallow roots on white spruce provide poor anchors for these tall trees, and they blow over more easily than aspen. Wind-thrown trees provide prime breeding habitat for spruce bark beetles. When the shorter logs are placed upright, they dry out more quickly and discourage spruce bark beetles from breeding successfully. But this work took place in 1996, and Gilbert s study found that trees keep blowing down long after the logging has stopped. Gilbert also found that the total volume of windfall was three times higher than had estimated.