This page will show pictures of the destruction
The logging industry is now doing to the forest.
Even though the forestry department keeps making new rules
It seems it doesn't really matter.
Its all about who has the money to make
Others look the other way I guess.
This page will explain a little about Clear-cutting and selective cutting in
Maine. Why it�s done. Who does it, and how it has affected the Maine
forest, the affects on the game that lives in this forest, and how it affects
water quality. I will also include some pictures I have taken of some areas I
visit while out atving. Since we are the higher life forms on this planet,
and have the most effects on it also, we need to be governing what we are
doing if we are to continue to be able to live here. We don�t have another planet
to run off to when we destroy this one. We need to be thinking about more than
just Money.
"Only when the last tree is cut; only when the last river is polluted; only when the last fish is caught; only then will they realize that you cannot eat money."
Indian, Proverb-Cree
Quite a mess they leave isn't it
The ridges you see are just about bare.
Is clear-cutting actually worth the problems it will cause
down the road?
The large landowners in Maine have got to put a stop to the clear-cutting
in Maine. This is not forest management, as it is called these days. It is forest
destruction. It damages the forest ecosystem. After an area is clear-cut, trees
don�t grow back as healthy as they would in a natural forest system. A normal
forest is much more resistant to disease, and drought.
Clear-cutting also changes the species of trees that will grow back, which in
turn changes the types of uses in this forest. It is a mistake thinking that clear
cutting is a way to manage the forest. Cutting all the trees makes that area
useless for many years. Sometimes it�s generations. If they cut only a few trees
from an area at a time the area will keep producing trees much better. This is
good forest management. There are many well-managed private, and state
owned woodlots that will keep producing wood for many years. The amount of
wood that can be harvested from these well-managed wood lots will out weigh
the clear-cuts over the years.
Removing to many trees from the forest will cause erosion. In the spring
during heavy snow melts, and during heavy rains the water will wash the
topsoil�s into the small brooks then down into small ponds and lakes. This in
turn causes poor water quality. This also causes poor soils for new trees to
grow in. The area will develop poor quality trees for many years to come.
Compaction from the heavy machines also contributes to this problem. The
heavy machines cut threw the root systems with their heavy chains on the tires
so there�s nothing to help hold back the water and slow it down. This causes
deep ditches to be cut threw the forest floor. Areas also get so compacted, new
roots can�t grow threw the soil. All this also destroys soil fungus, which is
needed to break down forest materials so the new growth can then use it for
food.
THE DEAD ZONE.
This skidder trail will wash out next spring.
I'll be back in this area to get those pictures next spring.
Not much left on that ridge
They're not done yet.
Another problem is the chemicals used to spray clear-cut areas to
influence the types of trees the company wants to grow in this area. These
chemicals wash into the water table because of nothing being able to now hold
it back. This kills all the shrubs and small trees, which would help hold back soils. Are these chemicals safe? These will be discussed later in this page.
This was a pritty area of
Tall Norway Pine and White Birch
I took a walk here, what a mess this is.
The reasons for the clear-cutting
A lot of the decisions come from big businesses that are based out of state
just trying to make as much money as they can from the Maine forest with no
regards to the problems it will cause in the future to the state and its people.
Then the state and the people have to deal with what has been done. Our forest
should be managed for the long-term uses of recreational activities, hunting,
fishing, hiking, snowmobiling, atving, and of course producing trees for future
woodcutting. This brings many jobs to this area. Without trees, most of these
activities cannot happen. Also don�t forget about producing oxygen to sustain
life on this planet.
As valuable as the selective harvesting of trees can be, the scientific,
recreational, medical and nutritional uses of the lakes, rivers, mountains and
woodlands of our state are also increased by keeping the forest ecosystem
healthy. Recreational freshwater fishermen and commercial marine fishermen,
hunters, herbalists, clammers, shore land property owners, outfitters, guides,
and the many other small and large businesses that rely on the biological and
economic prosperity of the region all have a stake in the health of Maine's
forest ecosystem.
Its awfull the mess they leave.
I wonder what animals will live here now?
Does replanting repair a clear-cut?
No it does not. Most times by the time the area does get replanted, if it
even does, the area has been damaged from snow melt or rains washing most
of the soil away. Then it gets replanted with trees that normally don�t grow
there.
This changes the whole structure of the forest in that area. Animals that used
the area before it was clear-cut don�t move back into the area. Most times it
will grow back into a thick useless forest only used by small animals like
rabbit and that's if there is enough scrub brush allowed to grow to make food
for them. Most times these areas will be sprayed with chemicals to stop the
growth of trees they don�t want.� there goes the small animals food�. These
chemicals have been known to cause health problems. Most of these
chemicals wash into the water table.
A lot of nothing
The Alternatives
It�s not to stop the logging in the forest completely, but to do it in a way
To keep the forest healthy and more natural. This will help to protect out
Environment, protect our precious water, and maybe even let the animals in the forest have a home.
In 50 or so years this will grow back
It will be so thick you can't walk threw it.
What liquidation harvesting is? This is when a company buys a plot of
Land with the idea of cutting all the wood of any value, leaving the poorest
quality trees behind. Then selling this land quickly to make money again. They
usually will sell this as smaller plots of land. This will generally make it
unavailable to be cut again later on in time. The Maine Forest Service estimates
that up to 64,000 acres of forestland is liquidated each year.
Maine has just now addressed this. It says that the landowner now has to
summit a plan on how it will make roads, and where, how they will cut the
area, what is on the area for trees per acre, what they will cut, and a lot of
other info. They also can�t just sell the land after they cut it. Now they will
have to keep this land a number of years, 5 from what I can see, before they
can dispose of it. This doesn�t really help because most times it will take them
that many years or more to cut the land anyway. You would have to be a
lawyer to read and understand this, so I will not try to put this in my own
words. You can read, and download this here.
I think this land will be sold to Roxanne Quimby
When they get done raping this forest.
This area is the Township below
What she owns now.This is the lady that wants to turn
Most of Maine into a national Park.
Well maybe the park service will treat it
BETTER!!!
Hey look---- A field. Well it is now.
Think they will ever replant this?
They don't any others, why bother here.
Gee, they missed a spot.
Oh right they're not done.
I did see a deer track here.
I bet he don't hang around for long.
Bet he's pissed at mankind about now.
Need I say more?
This area will be a major washout.
The skidders should of went sideways with their trails.
Now the heavy snow melts will just wash it all downhill.
A little common sence goes a long ways.
Not much left on those ridges.
Makes you wonder if its all worth it.
These are now the new creatures that live
In our precious Forest
THESE ARE CHEMICALS USED TO CONTROL GROWTH OF UNWANTED
TREES AND SHRUBS IN THE FOREST.
Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum, nonselective systemic herbicide used for
control of annual and perennial plants including grasses, sedges, broad-leaved Weeds, and woody plants.
Imazethapyr is a compound to controls weeds by reducing the levels of three
Branched-chain aliphatic amino acids, isoleucine, leucine and valine, through
The inhibition of aceto-hydroxyacid synthase, an enzyme common to the
Biosynthetic pathway for these amino acids.
Triclopyr, a pyridine, is a selective systemic herbicide used for control of
Woody and broadleaf plants along rights-of-way, in forests, on industrial lands,
and on grasslands and parklands.
Sulfometuron-methyl is a broad-spectrum sulfonylurea herbicide. It is used
for the control of annual and perennial grasses and broad leaved weeds in non
Cropland. It also has forestry applications where it is used to control woody tree
Species.
Well thats it for this version of
Man at its best.
Pictures above were taken on 11-14-04
In the area of Delorme Maine atlas
Page 51 D2-D3 Area.
This is happening over many other parts of Maine also.
I'll continue snapping pictures of this as
I'm out trying to enjoy----- The Maine forest
Whats left of it anyway?
Send the Governor a email
Tell him what you think.
"CLIK HERE"
TO READ ABOUT THE STATE OF THE WORLDS FOREST
I'll keep adding to this page as I get pictures.
Information for this paper has been gathered from:
http://www.mainegreens.org/education/issues/forest.htm
http://www.maineenvironment.org/nwoods/liquidation_harvesting.htm
http://www.powerlink.net/fen
http://www.clemson.edu/extfor/publications/fortp19/gamebirds.htm
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