However, no scientific consensus exists for describing an unhealthy forest, predicting or classifying catastrophic fire event, or classifying the resultant damage of an insect and disease. Salvage logging was an alternative way of meeting timber demands and generating revenues by timber industries and legislators without much opposition from the public. This is because the laws permitting such logging practices are so vague and confusing. Though this sounds plausible, the criteria for determining what sort of trees would be removed, and who would make the decision still remains unanswered.
Salvage logging is an attempt to compromise excessive logging and controlled logging.
Excessive logging obviously leads to deforestation as is evident in most areas of the world today. The savannas of Africa, the steppes of eastern Europe and Russia, the pampas of Argentina, and at least some of the prairies of North America used to be forested before human disturbance. It also allows for clearcutting of huge forest areas. It prevents citizens from exercising their right to challenge illegal logging plans. Allowing for deforestation by the federal government by such vague laws gradually contributes to global deforestation and a corresponding increase in species extinction.