What kinds of forest management activities are taking place to support sustainable forestry?
Traditional sustainable forestry principles dictate that a landowner not harvest more timber than is grown over a period of time. Over the last four decades, however, there has been considerable and often contentious debate over whether and how this definition incorporates other measures of sustainability including conservation of old-growth, native tree species, threatened and endangered species habitat and water quality. This evolving definition of sustainable forestry further recognizes what a forest can provide to local communities and the ecological services it renders. RFFI is currently undertaking a long-term forest planning process to define how both traditional and recent definitions of sustainability can be integrated to maintain and enhance the region’s economy and environment.
