The effects of Logging to the Forests

The effects of Logging to the Forests
The impact of logging on watersheds depends on several factors:

• The amount of canopy removed
• The amount of biomass removed (including how much slashed vegetation remains)
• Logging methods
• Timing: wet or dry season
• Soil conditions and topography
• Extend, nature and use of roads, skid traits and landings
• Methods, of slash disposal and site preparations
• How quickly regeneration occurs or reforestation is carried out
• Whether buffer strips of forest are along rivers
• Climatic events, such as heavy rains, after logging

The initial direct impacts of harvesting logs (deforestation) are:

• Removal of tree canopy understorey growth and litter reduces soil protection, and leads to greater raindrop impact and bare soil '
• Logging activities may change soil properties due to soil compaction, loss of organic material, and so on. This result in reduced infiltration and increased likelihood of soil erosion
• Removal of tree reduces transpiration, increases air movement and changes temperature.
• This changes evapotranspiration usually reducing it
• Removing tress reduces root mass and soil strength so that landslide are more likely to occur on slopes.
• In cloud forest logging reduces the water capture functions of forest, thereby reducing precipitation.

The effects of Logging to the Forests