In terms of whether salvage logging is an effective approach to dealing with the aftermath of forest fires and severe storms, the reading passage and the lecturer are contradictory to each other.
The reading passage states that salvage logging will lead to immediate fresh growth, while the lecturer views the issue from an opposite angle. According to her, cleaning up dead trees doesn’t necessarily create the right conditions for tree growth. In the meantime, the natural process of decomposition enriches the soil and provides a suitable atmosphere for future generation of the trees.
Contrary to the belief in the reading passage that the dangers of insect infestation will be minimized as a result of salvage logging, further resulting in the health of the forest, the lecturer argues that decaying wood offers a favorable habitat to not only harmful insects but also birds and some other insects that are important contributors to the long-term health of the forest.
According to the passage, salvage logging stimulates economic development by providing much wood for industry and creating additional jobs. However, the lecturer opposes it by saying that its benefits are questionable considering exorbitant expenses of using and maintaining helicopter and other vehicles after severe disasters. What’s more, such jobs are only temporary and are often filled out by well-trained outsiders instead of local residents.