Forest Management Objectives in the Twenty first Century

Abstract

The Forestry sector is currently facing an identity crisis; it has lost much of its former meaning. It has now to re-invent and re-establish its new identity rooted in the well-being of the people and the potential of tropical forests as now unraveled. The Twenty-First Century will be a century of the use of forests for their indirect environmental, social and recreational functions. Such a state of forests would also ensure the welfare of forest-dwellers and other forest-dependent communities. Change in the forest management objectives would be profound; from "Change Nature" to "Follow Nature". Nothing that Mother Nature has created is a weed. "A weed of today is a need of tomorrow". Ecosystem Management would, therefore, replace Conversion to Uniform Management. A living tree is more beneficial than a harvested one; biological maturity will, therefore, replace market-maturity. For a forest ecosystem to be sustainable, the sub-systems comprising the ecosystem need need to be sustainable. A sustainable whole is not possible without its parts being sustainable. The days of production partnership of all stakeholders have arrived. The need is for empowering the partners and making them accountable. Given a proper forest management environment, it would be possible "to have the cake and eat it too". This is what Forest Management in the Twenty-first Century and new millennium will strive for.