Lesson 4: Soil Conservation

Trees and other plants play an important role in the conservation of soil;  their roots hold the soil and protect it from water erosion.

Trees also provide shade that helps protect the soil from being dried out by the sun.  They slow down winds that could dry out the soil or blow dry soil away.

It's important to minimize the negative effects on the soil because the forest soil also plays an important role in forest ecology.

Logging can affect the different characteristics of soil which in turn can have long term consequences for the soil's productivity.  Proper harvesting usually reduces the negative impacts.

Forestry machine operators, contractors, and supervisors work together to protect forest soils from damage. 

Have you ever heard of flooding in an area after a forest was cut down?

In 2017, residents of Kananaskis Country were opposed to the clear cutting of 255 hectares of timber in the area.  Members of the area communities had a number of concerns with the clear cutting, one of which was the risk of flooding in the area. 
For more on this situation, click here.