What are advantages and disadvantages of thinning and controlled burning?

Question

From an ecological and enviromental view point. Also, think small and global at different times of year.

Answer 1

In many forest systtems fires were fairly common. Sometimes the got to big and killed vast tracts of trees. Usually though they just went through like a grass fire burning up all the trash and cleaning out the undergrowth. Some trees like Jack Pine need the heat of a fire to open their cones and reseed. This tree is adapted to fire and when there are no fires the Jack pine forest dies out.

If fires are not freqent enough the debris from the trees builds to a level where any fire is suddenly a huge fire.

The big disadvantage with fire is that it can get out of control or that it is used over to big of an area. It is also true that burning causes pollution.

Thinning is supposed to promote faster tree growth. This might be true and good if you are trying to grow toilet paper. If you want strong tall straight trees it is better to make them grow up by crowding them into competing for sunlight. If trees are grown crowded the low3er branches die and drop off naturally with no need for people trimming them and harming the trees. If you thin the trees out they never get the normal form for a forest tree and only ever produce third rate weak knotty wood with wide soft growth rings.

Answer 2

I have enough trouble thinking of the answer. I can't see any DISADVANTAGES to these activities as long as they are done correctly. "Controlled" burning has had a reputation for getting out of hand. The advantages of thinning are to get rid of thin undergrowth which competes for ground nutrients with more mature trees. Controlled burning does the same by burning out this undergrowth. Also, heating the ground layer of debris helps convert it to nutrients faster.