Managing your forest land – Landowners Top-10 Frequently Asked Questions
US Forest Service, State and Private Forestry – Northeastern Area
Forest Stewardship Program
10. Am I practicing sustainable forest management?
What is sustainable forestry?
Sustainable forestry implies using forest management approaches that ensure that the forest resources (“resources” broadly defined) are available for use now and in the future. The notion is similar to “conservation” or wise resource use. Private forest sustainability starts with the landowner and benefits everyone who enjoys forest outputs, such as clean water, and forest products, such as paper. How a forest is managed affects everyone.
People usually think first about sustaining the forest value that is most important to them. This value might be growing timber, or conserving native species diversity, recreational opportunities, or perhaps the socio-economic culture that has developed around a local wood-using industry. Simply, sustainable forestry addresses all the resources provided by the forest and strives to retain current use options into the future. Because forests change, sustainability emphasizes the need to retain all viable options and opportunities and de-emphasizes specific forest qualities on a specific acre.
What does sustainable forestry look like?
You can practice sustainable forestry on every acre; but not every acre will look the same. As forests mature, your decision to manage for certain forest resources may change the way the forest looks. Your forest will change even if you do not change it. A reasonable goal then is to use appropriate management practices in specific areas, to ensure you retain all of your options while your forest produces resources or products.
What do I need to know and do?
Managing your forest sustainably requires that you (1) know the current condition of the forest and its characteristics, (2) have a
plan
for managing the forest, (3) understand natural forest change, and (4) use appropriate management practices to meet management objectives. These components provide a logical arrangement of information and, with the assistance of trained natural resource managers, enable you to sustain your forest values.
Can I measure the sustainability of my forest?
In recent years, various organizations have defined criteria and indicators of sustainable forests. These organizations are developing ways of measuring and describing forest conditions that represent healthy forests and communities. What defines success in sustainability? Because each forest is different, the criteria include a combination of forest characteristics like biodiversity or forest productivity and the practices to manage them sustainably. When considering the criteria of sustainability you must not equate visual appeal with the sustainability of ecological or biological health. While the visual impacts of forestry practices are a component of sustainability, they are not a critical measure.
Where can I find more information?
Topic |
Recommended Web link |
General Information |
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Criteria and Indicators of sustainability |
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Verification and key organizations |