Slash height and location

Slash is the debris that is left after harvesting that was not removed for commercial use. It is the branches, limbs, and other pieces of trees left in the woods. Many owners believe it is very unsightly, and are concerned about the apparent "mess" that slash makes during and after the timber sale. It is possible to specify in the contract that slash be left no higher than a certain distance from the ground, or not left at all within an agreed upon distance from trails, roads, boundaries, homes, or other features. 

Slash is expensive and dangerous for harvesters to deal with. Since it has no commercial value, they can not sell it. As a result, cutting it up further to reduce its height, or moving it off site or elsewhere on the timber sale to be out of view is an expensive proposition that is not cost effective. Thus, if a landowner places in the contract particular slash restrictions, the buyer of the timber may reduce the amount of money they would pay.  If the Seller wants to place certain slash restrictions in the contract, expect to have the value of the standing timber reduced to compensate for the extra work required of the Buyer. 

Slash in Massachusetts is also regulated by the Slash Law, which stipulates how high and where it can be left with respect to roads, boundary lines, railways, and water bodies.