Frequently asked questions about the Scorecard forests indicator

Why these five areas?

Sightline chose three study areas in Western Washington and Oregon to highlight forest practices in a sample of locations. Each location is unique, but they are all similar in the sense that they represent a mix of public and private; state and federal; open to logging and protected forests.

In British Columbia we chose two adjoining scenes to highlight an area in the interior that has been mostly overlooked, in part because of all the attention to British Columbia's coastal rainforest. Each study area is defined by a series of satellite images.

Do the satellites distinguish between second- and old-growth forest?

Our method of analysis detects clearcutting but it does not distinguish between old-growth and second- or third-growth forests. Tracking clearcuts--places where nearly the entire forest has been cut down--provides a rough gauge for how extensively humans have altered the forests of the Northwest. Clearcuts of old-growth forests cause long-lasting simplifications of those natural communities.

But even the many clearcuts that now occur in second- or third-growth stands are signs of disrupted ecosystems and a general indicator of wood-products consumption.

Clearcut logging alters natural ecosystems, constricting the habitat for old-forest species, which cannot survive in immature second-growth stands. And all forms of logging emit greenhouse gases, which are responsible for global warming, and require road building, which causes erosion and degrades streams.

Who's doing better or worse at managing forestlands--state or federal? How about tribes and private?
It varies. On the Olympic Peninsula, the state has clearcut a greater percentage of its land than the US Forest Service. The reverse is true, however, in the Central Cascades and Southern Oregon study areas. The highest rates of clearcutting occur on private and tribal lands-particularly the Quinault Indian Reservation--in some cases clearcutting more than 40 percent of the forests in the past three decades. See related graphic.

What does this data tell us about sustainable forestry practices?
We hope it highlights the need for better conservation measures across landscapes and across land ownerships. In some cases, FSC certification of timber would improve conditions, in other cases, additional preservation, perhaps in wilderness areas, would help protect our remnant native forests.

Are other groups using satellite imagery to track clearcutting?
Other groups have used satellite imagery to detect clearcuts, but no one has used it as extensively to track clearcutting over a 30-plus year period. Other groups that have interesting forest maps online include the David Suzuki Foundation, Ecotrust, Sierra Club BC, and Global Forest Watch.

Can we use your maps?
Yes! You can download the versions you need, for free (with registration), at our Maps & Graphics Center. If you have any trouble downloading the versions you need, email us at ask-us@sightline.org