When we cut down woods, aren’t we fragmenting the forest?

In general, making different age classes of woodland helps wildlife because it creates a mosaic of habitats – a richer and more-diverse forest that benefits a broad range of creatures and not just a select few. In heavily forested landscapes, research has shown that timber harvests do not cause forest fragmentation. But in heavily fragmented landscapes, clearcuts may lead to further fragmentation and increase the amount of “edge habitat,” something that can affect forest-interior birds. Seek out advice from a professional forester or a habitat biologist to minimize forest fragmentation.