Salvaging logs post-hurricane.

Supporting recovery after Hurricane Helene.

When Hurricane Helene slammed ashore in September 2024, it wreaked havoc across the Gulf Coast and southern Appalachians.

For Georgia’s forestry sector, the storm caused widespread timber damage, particularly in areas which supply Canfor’s Thomasville and Moultrie sawmills. In the face of this destruction, salvage logging has emerged as a critical tool for recovery–offering both environmental and economic stability.

Salvage logging is a specialized form of timber harvesting that focuses on recovering trees damaged by natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes or wildfires. Unlike traditional logging, which works with healthy, upright trees, salvage operations navigate the challenges of broken, leaning or uprooted timber.

Harvesting techniques.

The salvage logging process is slow and meticulous and requires additional, special equipment and safety protocols.

Each log needs to be evaluated for defects like splits or internal breakage, and foresters must prioritize which tracts to harvest before time runs out.

Damaged wood must be processed quickly to minimize loss. To support this, investments in wet storage facilities allow salvaged timber to be preserved for months, ensuring a consistent supply, while stabilizing prices.

Benefits of salvage logging.

Timely salvage ensures a steady flow of wood to the mills while preventing further degradation of timber left on the forest floor. Acting quickly also minimizes the risk of insect infestations, which thrive in damaged wood and can spread to healthier trees. This helps the remaining forest recover more quickly.

While the impact of natural disasters like Hurricane Helene can take years to fully recover from, salvage logging provides a valuable opportunity to reduce long-term environmental damage.