Large natural resources can also be obtained from forests and large forest areas. This activity, which is to bring the natural resources of these places, is known as logging. It is also known by the name of forestry. It is the sister science of agriculture that has some elements in common, but they have different objectives and characteristics.
In this article we are going to tell you what forestry is, what are its main characteristics and the importance they have in the economic sphere.
What is logging
We know that logging is an activity not as well known as others such as agriculture, but it is vitally important. And it is that in the forest exploitation not only natural resources are obtained, but it is in charge of the crops and the maintenance of the forests. When we speak of logging or forestry we have to introduce the nature environment conservation variable thanks to the correct treatment of the forests. If we give an economic value to the large hectares of forests and forest lands, we will be able to increase environmental quality.
The main objective of logging is to improve environmental and production quality by maintaining pastures for livestock. An example of forestry exploitation in Spain is forestry within the forestry industry sector. In this case, Spain is basically focused on extracting natural resources from forests such as wood and cork. The fact that a forest is subject to logging does not mean that it is degrading the ecosystem. One of the characteristics by which logging or forestry becomes a sustainable weapon is that It aims to extract natural resources at a slower speed than the ecosystem is capable of recovering on its own.
Not because in a forest is this exploiting wood as a natural resource means that there is deforestation. What forestry is looking for is to be able to find a way to extract the necessary natural resource from the forests and keep them in good condition. By giving an economic value to a forest, we achieve a balance between resource exploitation and nature conservation.
Logging activities
In forest exploitation there are various activities collected whose main objective is the exploitation of resources and nature conservation. Among these activities we find the planting, maintenance and exploitation of forest crops. For it, they have different methods similar to agriculture but that have long-term objectives. That is to say, while agriculture aims to have crops in a matter of months, in forestry crops are grown in dozens of years.
If we want to plant a forest we must be patient and know what a long-term goal is. Trees take dozens of years to fully develop and provide high-quality woods. This is the reason why forestry needs this balance between operation and maintenance. As they help crops to grow, the health of forest ecosystems is constantly maintained. The methods are different with respect to agriculture but we must understand that it is not the same to grow trees for reforestation or for logging than crops to eat.
When forestry is practiced, the forests are cultivated with different treatments and techniques. This is how we get good maintenance and allows job creation while generating natural resources. Thanks to this balance, the well-being of the ecosystem and improved productivity are achieved.
What is forestry for?
Since it is a branch accompanied by agriculture, it is used to manage forests and mountains. Thanks to forestry, permanent production can be obtained and meets all the needs of the ecosystem. It is vitally important that this exploitation of resources is in a sustainable way. In other words, the ecosystem alone must be able to recover from the different impacts that occur during the extraction of these resources.
Forestry has among its basic principles environmental sustainability and the search for high quality of natural resources. The aim is to ensure that the environmental impacts on the environment are minimal. In addition, not only the trees are benefited, but all the fauna associated with them. One of the indirect benefits of forestry is promoting biodiversity. The forester has an important role in each crop. It is he who decides what type of treatments should be performed to obtain natural resources such as they are the wood, the firewood or fruits.
The logging must choose a place where you can have a space in which to grow trees and can obtain an economic benefit. Among these crops you can also choose other plants that will be used as fodder for livestock or as medicinal plants. It not only focuses on resources such as wood or cork. In the history of forestry we can see that the only basis of it was to get wood in an optimal way. However, as science has advanced over time, we find a greater knowledge about the species of trees and plants. Thanks to this knowledge it is possible to know and consider the ecological objectives that can be included for a greater number of natural resources and better nature conservation.
With all these scientific advances we can produce several crops in the long term and find the balance between the biological, ecological and economic needs of the crop.
Types of logging
Finally, we are going to see different types of forest exploitation that exist:
- Intensive forestry: It is one that uses different varieties of techniques to guarantee productivity in the chosen forest area.
- Extensive forestry: It is a model that encompasses the chosen environments with the crops distributed in natural areas. With this practice, it is possible to conserve nature and natural resources as well as offer different services to the population. Among these services we find nature tourism and environmental education. Thanks to extensive forestry, the guarantee of being able to improve the production and maintenance of the forests is offered.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about logging and its importance.