NATURAL FOREST LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT - A STRATEGY FOR CANADA

The natural forest landscape management approach can truly demonstrate sustainable development. Canadian forests can become models in achieving a much broader array of social and environmental objectives. We need to expand on the virtues of maintaining these natural forests using revised logging programs. We have the potential to retain the biodiversity of our natural forests, as well as sustaining a competitive forest industry. Silvicultural treatments must be planned to contribute to the maintenance of natural forest ecosystems as well as to increasing rates of growth. We have many and diverse combinations of species-site-location possibilities that have received very little empirical attention. Foresters, governments and industry must develop a vision or philosophy of forest management that will provide the quality of management required by forest land owners, the public and consumers of forest products. This philosophy must be in harmony with nature and with public expections, and must be based on sound knowledge of forest science. The authors of this paper believe that the natural forest landscape management approach responds to these needs. -from Authors