“We risk reducing natural ecosystems to one metric…"
TLDR Planting one species of tree instead of an ecosystem of multiple species of native trees is not a good idea.
“We risk reducing natural ecosystems to one metric…"
TLDR Planting one species of tree instead of an ecosystem of multiple species of native trees is not a good idea.
Those trees are often the ones logging operations prefer (whether for lumber or paper mills).
Ontario, Canada has done the same for decades to feed mills.
While this is an issue, there are more than a few “non-profits” that have come into existence in the past 5 to 10 years that are “saving the world by planting millions of acres of trees”. These assholes are even more guilty than the lumber companies because at least the lumber companies are planning on cycling the trees, not trying to repopulate a forest the wrong way.
A more effective solution would be to mandate that all trees that are lumbered must be replaced 1:1 with saplings of the same species. It won’t fix the loss of old growth, but at least it will give a chance for maintaining biodiversity so long as there aren’t any overzealous moose or goats.