One official advocates for clear-cutting one-hectare plots in the middle of every twenty hectares of the intact old-growth forest. The official says that this pattern will maximize biodiversity in the area while still allowing for the harvesting of timber. Explain how this pattern could produce more biodiversity than the old-growth forest alone.

This pattern of clear cutting in patches could produce more biodiversity than the old-growth forest alone because;

The available land for habitation will increase and therefore the biodiversity will also increase.

Clear cutting is simply a method of clearing that causes deforestation which

involves converting a forest land to be used for another land purpose.

In this case, the clear cutting is in patches of 1 in 20 hectares plot. This

method will increase the area of available lands and thus, those available

lands could be used for other purposes to accommodate life.

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Clear cutting of small patches in the main forest enhances biodiversity by preventing hazardous events such as forest fires and make the ecosystems intact and also reduces visual scarring

Explanation:

Clear cutting of small patches in the main forest enhances biodiversity in the following ways –  

a)It reduces visual scarring and preserve species diversity

b)Keep the ecosystems intact and hence support more wildlife

c)Make the biotic components of ecosystem resistant to disease and pests

d)Carbon dioxide within the trees will regenerate or regrow faster  

e)Reduces fire hazard and soil erosion