Silviculture and Forest Management

The evolution of silviculture has been a long learning process, not only technically, but also at a more philosophical level. In the west, much has changed since Hans Carl von Carlowitz published in 1730 his management manual to sustain wood supply for the local mining industry. After several attempts of domestication, homogenization and economic optimization of forest stands—some more successful than others—we are coming to the realization that the &s;ideal&s; management of forest stands requires a more or less permanent forest cover and certain level of &s;naturalness&s; as societies have come to expect much more than just a sustain supply of timber from forests. The following pages summarize the basic ecological principles governing forest silviculture and present a number of management examples from several regions to illustrate how forest management has been moving from a conversion approach towards a lower impact management. Nonetheless, in order to succeed any management regime should consider the needs and expectations of those closer or most dependent on the forest for their wellbeing; conversion, homogenization, rehabilitation and conservation of forest stands are all part of a dynamic forest landscape where 138 trade-offs are unavoidable. The technical knowledge to managed forest stands in a continuous manner is available despite our incomplete ecological knowledge at certain levels; however, as with many other issues affecting the forestry sector, forest management is mostly limited by administrative and economic shortcomings than by the lack of detailed ecological knowledge. Conflicted legislation, complicated and costly bureaucratic requirements, and unreasonable expectations of short-term financial returns are undermining the long-term productive potential of many forest areas.