How does selective logging work?

When exploring sustainable forest management, one method which crops up time and time again is selective logging. It is one of the most common methods of responsible forest management, especially in natural forests, and a staple for organisations such as the PEFC and FSC. But what actually is sustainable logging? We have everything you need to know in this guide.

What Is Selective Logging?

Selective logging is a method of forest management which involves only harvesting certain trees from natural woodlands or rainforests. These tend to be the largest or oldest trees (though usually not veteran trees, as these can provide crucial support for the wider ecosystem), leaving the rest to grow naturally. You might also hear selective logging under the umbrella of reduced impact logging (RIL).

The opposite of selective logging is clear-cutting, which strips vast areas of all their trees, leaving patches of the land completely bare. If you have ever seen images of brown, dusty land where forests once stood, this is clear-cutting.

What Is Reduced Impact Logging?

When we talk about RIL, we are talking about the wider umbrella of sustainable forestry techniques. This includes selective logging, along with a lot of other eco-friendly strategies which aim to maintain the environment without stopping timber production, such as:

• Pre-harvest mapping
• Minimising road construction
• Reducing CO₂ emissions

While selective logging only applies to the process of felling the timber, RIL continues throughout the entire timber production and manufacturing journey.

Why Is Selective Logging Important?

Selective logging is a staple of sustainable hardwood forestry, bringing a wide range of benefits when compared to clear-cutting. These include:

• Biodiversity preservation: A wider variety of trees throughout the forest maintains a more diverse ecosystem, maintaining the land’s ability to support a variety of plant species and wildlife.
• Habitat protection: Wildlife habitats are less disturbed compared to clear-cutting, causing less distress and harm to the animals living in the woodland.
• Soil conservation: By retaining more vegetation cover and the natural look of the forest, selective logging reduces soil erosion and nutrient loss for healthier soil.
• Long-term timber production: The younger trees are able to keep growing and maturing, while felled trees are replenished, creating a more continuous cycle for long-term timber production.
• Carbon storage: By not removing all trees from the woodland, the forest is still able to sequester carbon and help reduce global carbon emissions. When paired with planting new trees, it is a far better way to maintain the ‘earth’s lungs’ while still producing timber.
• Flood protection: Trees play a vital role in absorbing water and preventing floods, and by ensuring there are enough roots left to soak up the rain, local communities are kept safer from potential flooding.

How Can You Support Selective Logging?

Selective logging is a wonderful alternative to unsustainable logging methods, providing a good balance between maintaining timber production and protecting the world’s natural forests. This is applied to both temperate forests, where our oak beams and sleepers come from, as well as tropical forests, where ekki fenders and Iroko decking are sourced. So, how can you support this sustainable practice?

One way is to choose timber sourced from responsibly managed woodlands, where practices such as selective logging and RIL are commonplace. This includes FSC-certified timber products available from EcoChoice.

From timber decking to cladding, get in touch with our team to place your sustainable timber order.