clearcutting

Clearcutting is a forestry practice in which most or all trees in a designated stand are removed in a single harvesting operation. The method creates an even-aged forest stand and is commonly used where dominant species regenerate well after disturbance or where an immediate, uniform stand is desirable for subsequent planting or natural regeneration.

Typically performed with heavy machinery or cable logging, the operation may be followed by reforestation through planting, direct seeding, or relying on natural regeneration. Variations include patch clearcutting, where small patches are cleared at a time to create a mosaic of age classes.

Ecological effects are debated. Proponents argue it can mimic natural disturbances such as fire and allow rapid regeneration of certain species, reduce disease risk in dense stands, and lower logging costs. Critics point to habitat loss, soil erosion, sedimentation in streams, changes in hydrology, and disruption of wildlife corridors and genetic diversity.

In many places clearcutting is regulated under forest practice acts or environmental protection laws. Practices such as streamside buffers, retention patches, and reforestation requirements aim to mitigate impacts. Public concern and certification programs have led some forests to abandon clearcutting in favor of alternatives or definitions of sustainable yield.

Alternatives include selection cutting, shelterwood, and variable retention harvesting, which remove trees while retaining viable seed sources and some habitat. The choice of method depends on site conditions, management objectives, legal requirements, and ecological considerations.