If piling is required, some coarse debris should be left out of the piles or windrows. The prescription may call for discontinuous site preparation in order to leave some patches to develop without intervention. Site preparation equipment passes, for example, may be widely or closely spaced to accommodate varied planting densities. Broadcast burning results in different species development than mechanical site preparation, or no site preparation. Therefore, burning can be used as a tool to ensure fire-origin ecosystems are not lost.
Spot burning is also a good example of discontinuous site preparation.
Forest practices that minimize soil disturbance are the best way to maintain the below ground biodiversity and ensure the continued functioning of the soil ecosystem. No timber harvesting is permitted within a reserve zone. In situations where there is no reserve zone, but only a management zone, it is critical that treatments within the management zone protect riparian zone objectives. This is the area of forest including and immediately adjacent to a stream, lake, wetland, or floodplain. Bank stabilization by root networks of trees and brush and the maintenance of riparian tree and brush species that contribute leaf litter and shading to the stream are important.