• Introduction
• Assessing Trees
• Assessing Soils
• Soil Surface Amendments
• Contour Felling
• Salvage Logging
• Pros and Cons to Salvage Logging
• Pros and Cons in Perspective
• What to do to help trees
• Sources and Credits
• Interactive Exercises

Tree and Forest Restoration - Contour Felling

Contour felling fire-killed trees has been shown universally to be the most effective tool for minimizing soil and ash surface erosion. The practice involves cutting down trees in a manner that lays them along the side of the hillside.

Since a fallen tree stem normally only contacts the soil surface with 15 percent or less of its stem, it is also necessary to cut the entire lengths into approximately 4- foot sections. Often trenching soil on the uphill side and pounding stakes along the downhill side are necessary to stabilize logs. The greater the steepness of the slope, the more contour logs are needed. Another means of achieving the same objective is through contour orientation of logging debris from salvage logging.