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Title: The Impact Of Particulate Outputs Associated With Timber Harvesting
Author: D Marks S
Author: Environment Agency
Document Type: Monograph
Annotation: Environment Agency Project ID:EAPRJOUT_195, Representation ID: 25, Object ID: 1544
Abstract:
Increased river sediment yields associated with forestry are likely to be particularly significant during harvesting. Extensive tree planting took place in the UK during the 20 years after the Second World War. With,many forests now reaching maturity, timber harvesting in Great Britain is expected to increase by 70% above 1996 levels in the following two decades. It is therefore important to understand the dynamics of particulate outputs arising from modern timber harvesting practices in order to evaluate the potential adverse impacts and identify possible prevention and amelioration strategies. Literature was reviewed in order to identify the forestry practices responsible for enhanced particulate outputs, and the potential impacts upon water resources and aquatic life. Combination of the intensive Plynlimon research programmes, monitoring and field observations at other harvesting sites and the collation of information from the Environment Agency pollution archive has given a broad view of particulate outputs associated with timber harvesting upon which recommendations have been based for prevention, amelioration and assessment of these impacts. Results from the detailed monitoring programme at Plynlimon indicate that modern FE harvesting practice is likely to result in less severe particulate outputs than recorded in previous studies, which involved the felling of a larger proportion of a catchment. In the future, the combination of both afforestation and felling in strict accordance with current guidance should further reduce the impacts of particulate outputs associated with timber harvesting.
Publisher: Environment Agency
Subject Keywords: RiversManagementWoodHabitat improvementWater qualityParticulate inorganic nitrogenTurbidityLiterature
Extent: 130
Permalink: http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:4384
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