Why Sustainability Matters
We only have one Earth, and ever since the Industrial Revolution, humans have deeply affected the balance of how we steward our environment by pushing profits to the top of the priority list. While it is important that we properly use our natural resources to build homes and make the world a better place, it is important to do so without harming our environment.
Sustainable forestry and resource stewardship are extremely important practices and tools to ensure that we balance the needs of humans against the longevity of the environment. Without sustainable forestry practices, forests are overharvested, leaving bare wastelands that may not be able to produce again for decades, while also damaging the water and soil quality of a site.
Sustainable forestry does several impactful things that include:
- Combats Climate Change: Forests are the second-largest carbon sink. Trees sequester carbon and regulate the atmosphere.
- Preserves Biodiversity: Sustainable forestry practices maintain diverse ecosystems, providing habitats for wildlife and protecting species that are declining due to habitat loss.
- Ensures Long-Term Economic Productivity: By managing resources responsibly rather than over-extracting, raw materials are maintained for future generations.
- Maintains Ecossystem Health: Sustainable practices include selective harvest and pest control, which prevent large-scale damage from fires and disease
- Protects Soil and Water: Erosion and sediment buildup prevention techniques are utilized to maintain healthy rivers and streams while building healthy, nutrient-rich soil.
Appalachian forests make up over 93 million acres, which is nearly 40% of the total land mass of the region. These forests are critical and store roughly a quarter of all of the forest carbon in the contiguous United States. Our trees provide clean air, clean water, and economic resources that are vital for the region.
These forests support thousands of jobs across forestry, milling, and manufacturing. More than 54 million people work in forestry-related fields worldwide. When we take care of our forests, we can ensure not only a better environment but also a sustainable workforce.
1. Forestry Management Plans
The basis for almost all sustainable forestry initiatives is a forest management plan. These plans provide a detailed account of the land and ecosystem within a forest. This allows for a deeper understanding of a specific area so that a management strategy can be put together to utilize the forest’s resources in a way that protects wildlife and ecosystems within.
This roadmap must include:
- Objectives of the landowner
- Resources to be managed
- Silvicultural plan
- Harvest rates
- Environmental assessment and safeguards
- Forest monitoring procedures
- Forest Management Map
In addition to this plan, some counties throughout Appalachia will tax forested properties with a management plan at a lower rate. This can be an additional benefit for landowners looking to get the most out of their property.
2. Controlled Burns
Prescribed fire is one of the most misunderstood tools in forestry, but it is extremely effective for use as a sustainable forestry practice.
Most, if not all, forest types throughout the Southeast and across Appalachia need fire. Healthy forests must continue to grow while limiting leaf litter, deadwood, and understory vegetation buildup. This buildup can create dangerous levels of fuel that can turn a normal fire into a catastrophic one.
In hardwood forests, fire is used more selectively than in pine forests. However, it is important for oak regeneration, which benefits from reduced competition and exposed mineral soil. Prescribed fire also helps the forest by:
- Recycling nutrients back into the soil
- Controlling invasive species and competing vegetation
- Improve habitats for wildlife
- Prepare seedbeds for natural regeneration.
When controlled burns are used effectively, they can be a great tool to protect the longevity of a forest while also encouraging productivity.
3. Certifications and Monitoring Programs
Seeking certification for a forest creates accountability and proves that a forest is truly sustainable and not just a claim or buzzword. Two primary certification programs are widely recognized across the industry. These programs are the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
Certification requires landowners and operators to follow strict standards around things such as biodiversity protections, water quality, and protection of high conservation value forests. These certifications are regularly monitored and audited to ensure that landowners are following the prescribed forest management practices.
4. Selective Harvesting vs. Clear Cutting
Selective harvesting is often presented as a better alternative to clear-cutting, but it's only effective when done well. Poorly executed selective cuts can actually degrade a forest faster than a well-managed clear-cut.
When done properly, selective harvesting of a forest maintains continuous forest cover, encourages natural regeneration, and supports long-term yields rather than one-time extraction. However, this comes at a cost. If loggers remove only the highest-value trees without regard for stand health (a practice called “high grading”), the forest is left with poor genetics and reduced future value. That’s not sustainable; it’s liquidation.
Reach Out to Us for More Information About Your Forestry Management Needs
Sustainable forestry affects more than just the trees, but also the water we drink, the products we rely on, and the livelihoods of our neighbors. To ensure that our forests last for generations, while also providing economic benefits to landowners, we must think forward about sustainability rather than simply profitability.
To learn more about how you can get the most out of your forests while also considering the ecological impacts, reach out to us at Church and Church Lumber today!