Clearcutting is a forestry/logging practice in which most or all trees in an area are uniformly cut down.

Benefits:

•  It creates wide, open spaces with lots of sun exposure. This allows the most sunlight to reach tree seedlings that require full-sun conditions to thrive. Clearcutting also creates forest clearings that are habitat for some species of songbirds, deer and elk.
• Economy of harvest. Clearcutting is the most efficient and economical method of harvesting a large group of trees.
• Fewer disturbances to the forest floor. By entering a forest to log trees once instead of multiple times in a series of timber harvests, the landowner minimizes disturbance to forest soil.

Drawbacks:

• They look bad. Until the newly planted trees “green up” a hillside, a clearcut is  not considered appealing to the general public.
• Habitat disturbance. Clearcutting alters the habitat where trees once stood, and forest wildlife is displaced into new areas.
• Increased stream flow. Clearcuts allow more water to enter a stream system through underground aquifers, because water is not being taken up and released by trees in a process called “evapotranspiration.” Increased stream flows can lead to increased riparian erosion during high-water occurrences.

Silviculture is the practice of controlling the growth, composition, health, and quality of forests to meet diverse needs and values.

Benefits:

• It produces abundant raw materials for the industry like timber and paper industry.
• It increases forest cover which is necessary for the conservation of wildlife.
• It maintains a perfect water cycle in nature.
• It prevents soil erosion as the forest cover keeps the topsoil intact.
• It prevents floods since the forest cover is vast.

Drawbacks:

• Less vertical diversity within individual forest stands.
• General lack of snags and over-mature trees.
• Low diversity of the trees age classes, species, and size.

Selective logging or partial forest removal is the practice of cutting down one or two species of trees while leaving the rest intact.

Benefits:

• Supports more wildlife by keeping their ecosystems intact.
• They build up tolerance and resistance to disease and pests.
• Carbon dioxide that is stored by the trees will regenerate (regrow) faster.
• Helps the forest grow back faster.
• Reduces fire hazards and minimizes soil erosion.

Drawbacks:

• Expensive and time-consuming.
• Some species will not regenerate (regrow) as fast.
• More exposure to weather damage such as ice, storms, and fires.
• Lots of stumps and other tree debris left behind.
• Removes genetically superior trees, whose seed is needed to keep forest healthy.

In conclusion, I don’t believe that British Columbia’s forestry’s industry is sustainable. From what I have researched about the economy of the industry, demonstrates the difficulty that is involved to satisfy both sides, in terms of the atmosphere and also the economy. British Columbia includes a high demand for forestry merchandise. The popular choice being clear-cutting because of its efficiency isn’t the clear answer here. Clear-cutting isn’t the best choice for each the atmosphere and our economy.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clearcutting

https://oregonforests.org/clearcutting

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silviculture

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_logging_in_the_Amazon_rainforest

http://ohsroom12and13.weebly.com/uploads/6/0/4/9/60491981/harvestingtrees.pdf