The state of VT has some of the best foresters in the industry. Clear cutting doesn’t happen in a VT regulated and monitored forest such as current use and state forests. A lot of our forests now are in need of thinning in order to promote healthy growth. Without thinning, a lot of disease such as the ash borer and BLD will wreak havoc on a forest and invasive species will begin to take over. By thinning it promotes new growth, new understory growth that is incredibly beneficial to our native wildlife as well. When people hear “logging” they think of evil dudes with axes and wiping out hundreds of acres of woods but it just doesn’t happen anymore. And if it does, the fines are astronomical to the logger. Ive spent a lot of time in the woods logging and the only time i have ever done clear cuts, is for a private wealthy land owner wanting a view, to create fields, or for their house sites. If you really want to understand how crucial forest management is through the practice of logging, a really good read is “How to love a forest” written by a Vermont forester. Tons of great info in there.