Colville FFA Chapter Agriculture Issues Team Hannah Gormon, Mariah Lentz, Billy Rogers, Kashmir Howes, Jolene Rogers, & Hannah LeCaire

Is the practice of clear cutting with the use of herbicides a proper way of forest management in Eastern Washington?

Benefits of Clear-Cutting More economical

Removal of areas infested with insect or disease damage

Fire Control

Selective Cut Logging Multiple cuts in a decade Clear Cut Logging Allows only one cut for several decades

Erosion is a problem in clear cutting!

Grass fires vs. Crown fires

Benefits of Herbicides Foliar Spraying – Spray Over – No overspray Injecting – Injected straight into unwanted vegetation, and does not affect other plants.

Reforestation after herbicides

Benefits of Herbicides Smaller Spray Zone Environment – Help to speed up process of forest regeneration – Meant to kill unwanted plants.

Disadvantages of Herbicides Toxicity If inhaled could cause serious damage Animals can also ingest these horrible and deadly toxins

Disadvantages of Herbicides Kills Non-Targeted Vegetation – Can overspray onto neighboring land or someone’s private property Contamination – contaminate the soils for future planting – Pollute waterways and soil Costly – Cheaper to buy larger seedlings

Advantages of Clear-Cutting Positive points – More cost effective for logging – Larger profits – Insect and Disease control – Less ladder fuels for fire prevention

Disadvantages of Clear-Cutting Causes Numerous Negative Impacts – Views change (ascetics) – Soil erosion – Increased wildfires – Long term profit vs. short term profit

Advantages of Herbicides Positive Points – Faster regeneration of the forest with less competition of other plant – Numerous safe methods of applications

Disadvantages of Herbicides Causes negative Impacts – Overspray may damage non-targeted areas – Costly….could buy larger seedlings vs. cost of sprays – Toxic to environment

~The End~ The answer is for you to decide ?