Intensively harvested forests in New England have shifted partially from conventional stem-only clearcutting using chainsaws and skidders to whole-tree clearcutting using harvesting machines. We have studied the impacts of wholetree clearcutting on soil, water, and revegetation in spruce-fir, northern hardwood, and central hardwood forest types. This report summarizes the relevance of our findings to forest management and suggests various management considerations, guidelines, and further readings. The intended audience consists of practicing foresters, land managers, environmental protection agencies and organizations, and the general public.
AcknowledgmentWe would like to thank several landowners and their representatives for providing land and conducting the harvest operations on which our studies were conducted: Tony Filauro and Great Northern Paper Co., Bill Kropelin and the James River Corporation, Tim Hawley and the
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