LETTERS

Clear-cutting is not a dirty word

ecently a New York State assemblyperson named Deborah Glick, from District 66-Greenwich Village in Manhattan, introduced a bill proposing a change in the Adirondack Park Agency approval process regarding clear-cutting in the Adirondacks. A key component of this bill is that a property owner would be required to get an APA permit on clear-cuts as small as 5 acres. To some, especially those who are not very knowledgeable regarding land management and silviculture, clear-cutting is misunderstood and even considered a bad practice. First, here is the definition of silviculture, “The science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health and quality of forests to meet the needs of landowners, wildlife, and to positively impact water resources.” There are a number of different forestry