Once we train our scientists to observe and understand the complexity of creation, it will become obvious that Bio-Diversity is a mandatory component of a healthy, productive forests. Diversity is encouraged by first recognizing the uniqueness of the individual communities, and then applying silvicultural systems that encourage natural regeneration for the mother trees on the site. This will require significant change in management goals and objectives. It will require strong direction from Management by changing the management emphases of the company or agency. Forestry is not " growing trees as a crop", it is " managing the remaining complex forest communities to provide the elements required for life on our planet ". A far more challenging job then described by Gifford Pinchot. Life in a complex forest community demands management principles far in excess of a simple agricultural concept. I appreciate the importance of feeding our growing population but, farming will fade away if we fail to recognize the vital contributions our forests make to all life. I am at a loss for words to convey the importance of just how essential management change is for our future!
Just what does this all mean? It means the goal of management must now change to focus on the health and diversity of the forests communities or ecosystems, if you prefer, instead of producing renewable natural resources from the forests. It means that properly managing our remaining forestland is essential, and "preservation", attempting to remove the human from the environment, nor "conservation", wise use of the resources we take from the forests, will provide an acceptable future for life on our planet! It means we can not continue our current rate of deforestation unless we focus our management efforts on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the remaining forest cover. It means a more intense management process that has a deep understanding of the elements our natural world provides for the sustenance of life!
Once we train our scientists to observe and understand the complexity of creation, it will become obvious that Bio-Diversity is a mandatory component of a healthy, productive forests. Diversity is encouraged by first recognizing the uniqueness of the individual communities, and then applying silvicultural systems that encourage natural regeneration for the mother trees on the site. This will require significant change in management goals and objectives. It will require strong direction from Management by changing the management emphases of the company or agency. Forestry is not " growing trees as a crop", it is " managing the remaining complex forest communities to provide the elements required for life on our planet ". A far more challenging job then described by Gifford Pinchot. Life in a complex forest community demands management principles far in excess of a simple agricultural concept. I appreciate the importance of feeding our growing population but, farming will fade away if we fail to recognize the vital contributions our forests make to all life. I am at a loss for words to convey the importance of just how essential management change is for our future!
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