When we talk about logging We are not referring to a purely negative concept. Depending on the degree of extraction of natural resources, the activity can be sustainable over time. Logging is also known by the name of forestry and is the sister science of agriculture although it is less well known.
In this article we are going to tell you what forestry or forestry is and how important it is for the maintenance of forests.
What is logging
Forest exploration is an activity that, although it is less well known than agriculture, is responsible for the cultivation and maintenance of forests. When we talk about forestry we are talking about the conservation of the environment and nature through the cultivation of forests. The main objective is to improve environmental and production quality with maintenance of pasture for livestock.
An example of forestry exploitation in Spain is forestry within the forestry industry sector. In this case, it focuses mainly on the exploitation of wood and cork. The fact that it focuses on logging does not mean that it is an activity in which deforestation occurs without any type of control. On the contrary, what this branch seeks is to be able to extract necessary natural resources from our forests, but at the same time, keep them in good condition.
Unfortunately, in order to give an economic value to a forest or other natural ecosystem it needs to be able to generate economic benefits. To do this, we use the natural resources of these ecosystems but in a rational way. This is how a balance between resource exploitation and nature conservation is achieved.
Forestry encompasses different activities such as the planting, maintenance and exploitation of forest crops. They have different methods regarding agriculture as results are obtained after dozens of years. All this depends on the species we are growing, but we have to understand that it is not the same to grow to sell than to grow trees for repopulation and maintenance of the ecosystem. In agriculture, products are obtained in just a few months, while a tree from which wood or cork is obtained can take ten or twelve years to grow and have quality wood.
In the practice of forestry, forests are cultivated with different treatments and techniques to ensure that the maintenance allows to offer a job and at the same time generate natural resources that can be produced. In this way, we take care of maintaining the well-being of the ecosystem and productivity in the different areas of all corners of the planet.
What is forestry for?
This branch of science accompanied by agriculture is used to manage forests and mountains. In this way we can obtain a permanent production that meets certain needs of the ecosystem and, in turn, we can obtain economic benefits from obtaining resources. This forest exploitation has principles based on environmental sustainability both in the goods and in their quality. To provide sustainability to the ecosystem, various treatments are used that allow the use of different crops over a long period of time. Also we try to ensure that the impacts on the environment are minimal. On the contrary, the main objective is to try to favor the improvement of the ecosystem and promote biodiversity.
Depending on the role of each crop, the forester may apply different treatments to obtain resources such as wood, firewood or fruits. The main objective of this logging is always to choose spaces where there are forests available for growth. Once this space has been chosen, we will proceed to the cultivation of trees in which some benefit can be obtained, such as wood, cork or paper. In these crops we can also choose different plants that will be used as fodder for livestock or even medicinal plants.
At the beginning, when forestry was still in its infancy, the only thing that was sought was an optimal production of wood crops. With the advancement of science and the greater knowledge of the species of trees and plants, it is possible to know and consider other ecological objectives that include a greater number of natural resources than can be extracted. For example, we can produce several crops in the long term and have a balance between biological, ecological and economic needs of the cultivation performed. This is how we always guarantee a continuous renewal of resources over time.
To achieve all these objectives in a sustainable way it is important that forest management is done correctly.
Types of logging
We are going to see the different types of existing forest exploitation. There are only two:
- Intensive forestry: It is one in which different varieties of techniques are used to guarantee optimal productivity of the entire forest area that has been dedicated to cultivation.
- Extensive forestry: In such a way that it happens with extensive agriculture, in this model it is tried to include within the chosen environments all the crops distributed in different natural areas. With this practice, it is possible to protect the maximum natural areas with cultivated forests, as well as to offer different services to the population such as tourism and environmental education. In this way, the guarantee of improving the production and maintenance of both poles and mounts is offered.
Advantages and disadvantages of logging
Let's first analyze the advantages:
- We can reforest areas that have a large number of trees or have even been desert or by urbanization or by a fire.
- It is a source of life for many species of flora and fauna.
- It offers many environmental benefits such as air purification, cleans and fed rivers, and supplies many areas with food.
Now we move on to the disadvantages:
- Although it is not a disadvantage in itself, it occurs more or less frequently. It's about and when logging is not properly managed. To avoid this problem, it is important that the people who work on this farm know well the crops that are going to be worked and that way the forest can be kept in good condition.
- The second disadvantage is derived from the first. If this activity is not managed correctly, environmental impacts may occur in an imbalance produced by human factors.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about logging.