Clear-felling or coupe logging
Management Activity
Clear-felling or coupe logging refers to the localised removal of most or all trees from an area in a single timber harvesting operation. Much of the the remaining vegetation and debris are then burnt. Some trees maybe retained for seed trees, habitat trees, fauna corridors or streamside buffers. Neither clear-felling or coupe logging are commonly practiced in Queensland. Both techniques can result in a dominance of eucalyptus species over rainforest or other species that occured in these forests.
The direct impacts of clear-felling or coupe logging may include:
- Loss of deep-rooted perennial trees and shrubs
- Reduced ground cover
- Reduced canopy cover
- Increase invasion of environmental weeds
- Increased soil compaction
- Increased habitat fragmentation
- Reduced riparian vegetation
- Complete loss of habitat
- Increased greenhouse gas emission
Last updated: 04 November 2008