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InfiNorth t1_j5rks3d wrote

You are literally claiming that clearcut logging has "always been done." It hasn't. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary answers.

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LongFluffyDragon t1_j5rl5ts wrote

I am quite sure i never said that, and i cant see any signs anyone else did either. All in your head, clearly time to take a long break.

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godisanelectricolive t1_j5rq3p8 wrote

I'm pretty sure they meant some kind of forest management has always been done, not the practice of clearcutting. I would argue the ancient practice of controlled burning is the perfect example of sustainable forest management that's beneficial to both humans and ecosystems. Far from being pristine wilderness untouched by human activity, Indigenous North Americans have long controlled the types of vegetation in a region using fire. Through controlled burning, they turned forests into grassland, savannah, open woodland and cleared undergrowth in forests to make travel more accessible. Slash and burn agriculture is also a tradition used by the Maya since time immemorial. The Yanomami of the Amazon also used also and burn.

Humans are part of the ecosystem and human intervention has long played a vital role in shaping the natural environment. It's not unnatural to extract resources or actively manage our surrounding environment, we just have to find ways of doing so that is complementary with nature. Logging is not inherently unsustainable, better forestry practices that prioritize preserving old-growth forests and protecting biodiversity are possible. Continuous cover forestry and close to nature forestry are two models that does not destroy the ecosystem and can even help create forests that are more resilient to wildfires. Using lumber does not require the destruction of entire ancient forests.

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