Clearcutting/Forestry

Clearcutting is a harvesting method that removes the entire timber stand in an area. This removes all the trees (or all merchantable trees) on the site. Clearcutting is a recognized and commonly practiced method of harvesting and regenerating many valuable southern forest species. Clearcutting has come under close scrutiny by policymakers and the public because of perceptions that clearcutting unacceptably damages the environment. Unfortunately, the term "clearcutting" is used in two different ways, which complicates …

…achieve a forest management objective, it is important to remember that trees are renewable resources. If a tree is harvested, a new one will grow to take its place, as long as the land is not converted to another use. Substitute products, such as steel, aluminum, and plastic are not renewable. The production and manufacture of steel, aluminum, and plastic consume seven times the energy necessary for the manufacture of wood products used in construction.