Ugly Forest Clear-cuts made trip along Oregon Coast depressing (Astoria: buying, construction)

[questioner2]

Last time I was in Oregon I drove the coast highway 101 all the way from Astoria to Bookings, over 300 miles. I expected it would be so beautiful but I was highly disappointing. It seemed like at every turn we would see huge clear-cuts where the forest over 40-100 acres would be mostly cut down. Instead of a large forest was a bunch of logs and debris left in the forest to rot. It was so ugly.

I could not believe that they would clear cut the forest so close to a major Scenic (??) Highway. I understand that Oregon is a logging State but couldn't they cut the forest in more isolated areas far from the scenic roads where tourists go. Or could they selectively cut a few trees instead of clearcutting a huge area?

The ugly scenes of clearcut forests will haunt me for years and discourages me from returning to the Pacific Northwest.

[Busch71]

Doesn't bother me at all. If you don't like it don't come back. Not much more to say.

[Pen Cap Chew]

Busch71, why are you such an ? And how could it not bother you? Everyone I know is sickened by it. What is wrong with you?

[seven of nine]

Originally Posted by Pen Cap Chew

Busch71,And how could it not bother you? Everyone I know is sickened by it. What is wrong with you?

and in this corner......, really how many of us have forestry degrees? There are many reasons areas are logged, economic, pest, ect, I do know they are replanted, pronto, did a little of that in my youth, all uphill you know.

[Busch71]

Originally Posted by Pen Cap Chew

Busch71, And how could it not bother you? Everyone I know is sickened by it. What is wrong with you?

Stating my opinion is being an mod cut How could it not bother me? Simple, I don't let it. A few acres of trees cut down isn't something to get your panties in a twist over. When I drive by an area like that it doesn't bother me a bit. If he doesn't want to come back and look at it then that's his choice, it isn't going to affect my life and it isn't going to stop me from enjoying the coast or any other area of the state just because he didn't like what he saw.

[seashelly]

Usually they push all that debris and left behind logs in huge piles and burn them but that's a whole other air pollution problem. Oh yeah, and let's not forget about road slides.

[haggardhouseelf]

I think really it's whoever who owns the lands right to do with it what they will... but sadly so much of the land is owned by people who don't realize that cutting so much will result in horrific floods later... of course they do replant... but a 20, 50, 100, 200 year old tree soaks up a vastly different amount of water than a young little one... It is dangerous to cut so much so close together and so near busy roads and towns in low-lying areas... Also - trees filter the air as well... and if you've cut them all down, and then you burn what's left, you're stuck with this horrible air which in areas like the Pacific Northwest tends to stick around for a bit because of the geography...

Really... they need to start thinking of other resources other than trees to use... reuse and recycle other materials... there are already plenty of living examples out there of some really wonderful possibilities... and not just for use in construction - everything from pencils to paper and beyond. There are so many tree-free alternatives out there. We just need to seek them out and change our buying habits.

Once the demand decreases, so will the clear-cutting.

[seven of nine]

Originally Posted by haggardhouseelf

I think really it's whoever who owns the lands right to do with it what they will... but sadly so much of the land is owned by people who don't realize that cutting so much will result in horrific floods later... of course they do replant... but a 20, 50, 100, 200 year old tree soaks up a vastly different amount of water than a young little one... It is dangerous to cut so much so close together and so near busy roads and towns in low-lying areas... Also - trees filter the air as well... and if you've cut them all down, and then you burn what's left, you're stuck with this horrible air which in areas like the Pacific Northwest tends to stick around for a bit because of the geography...

Really... they need to start thinking of other resources other than trees to use... reuse and recycle other materials... there are already plenty of living examples out there of some really wonderful possibilities... and not just for use in construction - everything from pencils to paper and beyond. There are so many tree-free alternatives out there. We just need to seek them out and change our buying habits.

Once the demand decreases, so will the clear-cutting.

If you live in Oregon, good chances your city is funded by timber reciepts, so the clear cuts maybe the reason you have a fire department, trust me the whole system is so fouled up that you will get your wish, unfortunatly when the forest is full of dead trees and snags and catches on fire and then in turn burns down your house, well that is just progress.

[ladysrodgers]

Originally Posted by seven of nine

and in this corner......, really how many of us have forestry degrees? There are many reasons areas are logged, economic, pest, ect, I do know they are replanted, pronto, did a little of that in my youth, all uphill you know.

The trees are supposed to be replanted, but in many cases they're not.

I agree with the OP, the clear cut areas are UGLY, not to mention shocking when you drive around a scenic corner, and are faced with a raped countryside.

[rickers]

I'm in Montana and when we see a clear-cut area it is often because the area burned and they do salvage logging. It is dryer here and I've never heard of any floods caused by logging here. If one doesn't like logging, one should stop using forest products.
Most of the domestic timber consumed in the U.S. is from tree farming now at least that's what I have read. Who really knows. I know a lot of land here is screwed up from not logging. Once virgin forest is logged once it must be managed from then on or it will take forever for a healthy forest to come back. The land ends up a thicket of poles.
Now with O.S.B the big trees can be left alone and small trees became usable. Plywood requires large timber.