S
lash
Slash is woody debris that remains on a site after it is logged, and it
is typically comprised mostly of treetops, branches, and defective segments
of harvested tree stems. Slash may visually appear unappealing, and many
landowners are shocked by the messy visual appearance of a harvested woodlot,
but slash does have some positive ecological values. Slash and other woody
debris provide nutrients and organic matter to the soil as well as important
wildlife habitat for smaller critters. Standing dead trees (snags) provide
especially important habitat for cavity nesting bird species. With these
considerations in mind, provisions in a logging contract might require
the protection of all snags and an even distribution of slash across a
site. After the first shelterwood harvest on the Shackelford’s
property in Rock County , they were shocked at first by the visual appearance
of the slash. Now, Penny tells me, she has realized that “you have
to get away from expecting everything to look neat.”
In the case of a seedtree,
shelterwood, or clearcut, excessively deep slash may impede site preparation
or planting efforts. In this case, slash should be lopped so that all
wood is in direct contact with the soil. Additionally, if a harvest produces
a significant amount of slash in a woodlot that is close to any homes
or other important structures, then the fire hazard associated with that
slash should be considered. Slash is a fire risk in oak and pine woodlands
in particular, but slash in a maple woodlot is not. Slash that is a fire
hazard should be lopped or treated so that all wood is in direct contact
with the soil. A landowner may also want to require that all slash be
fully removed from a “barrier strip” on the edge of the site
closest to any homes. While requiring a logging contractor to do any of
these treatments will reduce your stumpage bids, it is also most efficient
to have this work performed by logging contractor when they are already
on the site working with saws.