Slash could contribute to biomass economy

Published: November 11, 2008 06:37 pm
By BILL COOK
Special to the Grand Traverse Herald

Slash is logging debris left in the forest after a harvest. Sometimes it is called logging residue.
Slash can serve a range of purposes. The term waste would not be a good descriptive choice.

Nutrients in slash become available to plants as they decompose or to animals that feed on the leaves, buds, and twigs. The physical structure of slash can protect new seedlings from excessive browsing from herbivores such as deer. Slash piles serve as effective refuge from predators for many small animals. Forest owners are often concerned about how slash impacts the visual quality of a post-harvest woodland. For loggers, slash is often laid in trails to better support equipment and minimize soil compaction. Slash might also become a source of energy as woody biomass.

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