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About Jim Hyland
Expertise
Can answer questions on the environment as it relates to forest habitats, and forestry in general.

Experience
I am an expert in Forestry, Forest Entomology, Forest Pest Control, and Forest Health. Extensive knpwledge in Identification of insect, and diseases of trees. Expert in bark beetles and other insects that attack Forests. Also a Registered Forester with extensive knowledge in Forest Management and care of forests.

Education/Credentials
BS in Forest Management and Entomology
Registered Forester
Certified Pesticide Applicator

You are here: Experts > Science > Environmental Issues > Environmental Science > forestry and wildlife habitat

Environmental Science - forestry and wildlife habitat

Expert: Jim Hyland - 10/14/2009

Question
Dear Mr.Hyland,
I recently learned about the positive aspects that clear cutting can have on wildlife habitat. My question is, which allows for a greater diversity of animals, clear cut land or mature forests? When might a mature forest be better for habitat (are there more specialists or generalists in one or the other?). Thank you!
ps- i work at an environmental education center and would find this info quite useful (google was not terribly helpful)

Answer
I all depends on what type of wildlife you are talking about--Game species like deer, turkey etc. or non game species like song birds. Clearcut forest will have a very diverse set of species of wildlife that like this type of habitat and the mature forest will also have a diverse set of species that like that type of habitat. Clearcutiing is a method of regenerating the forest and for some species of trees it would be the only way-- some conifers. The best method is to intermingle the clearcuts in the mature forest so that you have over a large acreage of land different age classes of trees that will be inhabited by different wildlife species. This is a complicated question so I am going to refer you to a couple of web links for these answers.

http://forestry.about.com/cs/homeworkhelp/a/ClrcutBASF.htm

http://forestry.about.com/cs/foresthistory1/a/forestry_game.htm

http://forestry.about.com/library/weekly/aa031900.htm

http://www.wildlifemanagement.info/files/forestry_mgt_32.pdf

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