Yet, the theft of even one tree, i.e. a wildlife tree, can jeopardize the surrounding ecological integrity.
Timber theft is a crime.
It is illegal to cut any tree, or collect any wood, that the Forest Service has not designated for harvest. It is also illegal to intentionally identify flaws or other characteristics that would lower the value of a tree removed during a timber sale. So whether you cut one tree, a few extra, or an entire hillside, it's timber theft. If you intentionally misidentify a log and pay a lesser amount to the government than what it would have otherwise received, that's also timber theft. Unfortunately, no one knows the true extent of this crime.