We often hear about sustainable forest management, particularly in the context of European Sustainable Development Week. But do we really know what this concept entails?
The concept of sustainable management was defined by the Rio Conference in 1992. The goal is to develop forest management that can provide the goods and services that populations expect from it without affecting their future, so that future generations can also benefit. Sustainable forest management is a global ambition, although it is not implemented by all countries. In France, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry ensures its proper application.
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The goal of sustainable management is to reconcile the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of
forests
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Sustainable Management in France
The goal of sustainable management is to reconcile the economic, environmental, and social aspects of forests. According to Article L1 of the Forest Code, “sustainable forest management must ensure their biological diversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality, and ability to fulfill, now and in the future, the economic, ecological, and social functions relevant at local, national, and international levels, without causing damage to other ecosystems.”
“In order to enhance the forest heritage, particularly the woody forest resources, while maintaining and ensuring the multifunctionality of forests, special attention is given to the preservation of biodiversity and habitats, soil and water quality, improving the protective capacity of forests against natural risks, and conserving the quality of landscapes and cultural richness.”
A European Framework
For Europe, sustainable forest management must meet the six Helsinki criteria, which are as follows:
- Maintaining production capacity.
- Maintaining good health status.
- Satisfying production function.
- Respecting biodiversity.
- Protecting soil and water.
- Providing various “amenities” (reception, landscape quality…)
A handful of forest land contains more living organisms than there are people on Earth
The Challenges of Sustainable Management
A handful of forest land contains more living organisms than there are inhabitants on Earth. This gives an idea of the biodiversity we need to protect. Worldwide, forests cover more than a quarter of the land surface (3.8 billion hectares). Two-thirds of the recorded terrestrial animal and plant species live in forests. On Earth, 300 million people live in forests, and 1.8 billion depend directly on them for their livelihoods. Forests also store about 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
In other words, if the future of forests is threatened, it is the future of all humanity that is at stake.
Tag: forest management and computing