Chapter 4.3

Advantages and Limitations of Some Forest Vegetation Management Alternatives

  1. Prescribed fire - use of fire in controlled situation

    Advantages
    • natural part of forest
    • needed to maintain some plant communities
    • works well on steep slopes where access is difficult

     Disadvantages
    • can be difficult in hot, dry, or windy weather, on wet sites, or where fuel is insufficient
    • can cause soil erosion and nutrient loss, reduce soil organic matter, and decrease water quality
    • may encourage other undesirable plants to invade site
    • non-selective
    • provides only short-term control
    • major planning involved
    • risk of excape
  2. Mechanical cutting - tractors or skidders with cutting attachments

    Advantages
    • can combine with site preparation
    • less labor intensive than manual methods
    • can be used most of the year

     Disadvantages
    • can make weed problems worse if done improperly or at wrong time of year
    • can damage site by compacting the soil, causing erosion, removing the organic layer
  3. Manual cutting - hand-held equipment, may be powered

    Advantages
    • selective - can be used to cut individual stems
    • little effect on soil, site, or water
    • creates employment
    • socially acceptable

     Disadvantages
    • labor intensive
    • expensive
    • provides only short-term control
    • worker safety is an issue
  4. Mulches - material (plastic, wood chips, cardboard, newspaper) applied around the base of trees.

    Advantages
    • applied at time of planting
    • only affects area directly around planted trees
    • little effect on soil, site, or water
    • only alternative when grass control required
    • creates employment
    • socially acceptable

     Disadvantages
    • labor intensive
    • expensive
    • often requires maintenance
    • may not control shrubs
    • may reduce aesthetics of site
  5. Cover crops - seeding non-crop plants, often legumes or clover

    Advantages
    • erosion control
    • may improve soil nutrients
    • may provide forage for wildlife
    • socially acceptable

     Disadvantages
    • introducing non-native vegetation
    • may compete with trees
    • may increase rodent damage to crop
    • difficult to establish
    • wildlife habitat altered
    • seed may be expensive or difficult to obtain
  6. Grazing - livestock (sheep)

    Advantages
    • can generate revenue
    • socially acceptable

     Disadvantages
    • timing is critical
    • potential for damage to desired trees
    • restricted to certain types of sites or species
    • can be expensive
    • can damage riparian zones and reduce water quality
    • major planning involved
    • possible disease transmission to native wildlife
  7. Biological control - natural predators or plant pathogens, fungi, viruses, bacteria, insects

    Advantages
    • highly selective
    • natural part of the forest

     Disadvantages
    • registration process necessary
    • environmental effects unclear
    • may be too selective in some cases
  8. Herbicides - synthetic chemicals

    Advantages
    • relatively low financial cost
    • can treat large areas quickly
    • can be used selectively on ground

     Disadvantages
    • can only be applied at certain times of the year - restricted in forest
    • strong public opposition
    • often harmful to ecosystem
Table of Contents
Chapter 4 Intro/Chapter 4.1/Chapter 4.2/Chapter 4.3/
Chapter 4.4/Chapter 4.5

Copyright (c) 1997-98 OLIFE -- Oregonians for Labor Intensive Forest Economics. All rights reserved.