TPO 14 Q1

In this set of materials, both the reading and the listening are discussing whether salvage logging is of such importance to both industries and to the burned forest as well.

First, the professor states that cleaning up the forest will not necessarily create a suitable habitat for the new trees to grow. She added that in fact those burned trees help to create more fertile soil. Nevertheless, the text believes that if salvage logging is not to happen, it would take the salvage trees years to decompose and no new tree could grow meanwhile.

Second, the professor confirms that rotten woods do create a good habitat for insects like bark beetle, but she added that those insect have been present in Alaska for 100 years with no harmful effect to be mentioned. In addition to the beetle insects the burned trees could be a good place for birds and other insects which consider an important contributor to the ecosystem there to thrive in. On the other hand, the reading states that by removing rotten woods the tree will get rid of thousands of harmful insects as well.

Finally, the professor asserts that the economic effect of the salvage logging is temporary, she explained that in case of big forest fires helicopters are usually used to do the work instead of workers. In addition she stated that beside those jobs are temporary one they usually hire foreigners because of experience requirement rather than local resident. Quite the opposite the text highlight the important economic effect of the salvage logging to create more business in the area.