Advantages and disadvantages of silviculture

Advantages * Allow for establishment of a more uniform crop (includes the benefits of uniformity and even-aged management). * Allow for easier and efficient operations, because it is the simplest method to use. * May have lower costs for forestry activities including: planning, layout, supervision, harvesting, site preparation, and intermediate treatments. Harvesting may be less expensive due to the higher volume/hectare removal. * May more easily accommodate highly specialized equipment designed for harvesting and site preparation. * Avoid damage to regeneration since felling and extraction are done before establishment. * May provide a means to most rapidly achieve a free growing plantation when combined with plantation forestry techniques and fast-growing shade-intolerant species. Note: Often shade-intolerant species are more desirable due to their growth and yield and wood quality considerations. * May allow for easier control of insect and disease problems: Root rots - clearcut and remove stumps Dwarf mistletoes - remove overhead infection sources ** Mountain pine beetle - remove susceptible stands. * May more easily allow for amelioration of site/soil through site preparation (although it may be argued that amelioration may not be necessary if another silvicultural system is used). * Enhance worker safety because most or all trees are removed. Disadvantages * Sometimes negatively perceived as being systems that fight against nature, regardless of the ecological conditions, by encouraging uniformity, especially when agricultural techniques, such as site preparation and planting, are used. * May not be suited to wildlife species where overhead cover or more structurally diverse habitats are required at a stand level. * May expose the site to erosion, particularly if soils are compacted and moisture inputs are high on steep slopes with significant amounts of exposed fine-textured soils. * May increase mass wasting hazard on steep slopes with fine soil and high moisture inputs or with smooth geologic bedding planes that are parallel to the ground surface. * May exacerbate adverse environmental conditions for regeneration such as microclimate (frost, drying winds, extreme temperatures), soil moisture and perhaps nutrients, competing vegetation, predators (insects/animals). This adverse situation is only created on extreme sites where trees are very difficult to re-establish. * May prevent full growth and yield potential of individual trees (as in single tree selection management). During a significant portion of the rotation the growing space is not fully occupied by crop trees. * May not be considered visually pleasing. * Not well suited to shade-tolerant species that grow slowly in the juvenile stages, even if they are planted. * B

Balaji Jonnadula M.Sc (Microbiology) (Ph.D.)

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