Abstract
Forest sustainability is a concept for the desired condition of forest ecosystems all over the world. The essential aspects of sustainable forests differ tremendously, however, among peoples of the world. Parks and wilderness areas, wildlife preserves, watershed protection areas, multiple-use forestry, and short-rotation tree farming all are sustainable, from some viewpoints, when inflows and outflows balance over time. Sustainability needs to be defined to minimize conflict, confusion, and mistrust. For what, where, whom, and how long are forest values being sustained? One recommended approach is to assess sustainability at the landscape level and define the processes, structures, and resources needed to meet many of society’s objectives. A landscape-level example in the 200 000-hectare Applegate watershed in southwest Oregon uses four criteria as a measure of sustainability. With these criteria, management objectives, activities, and monitoring measures can be implemented across the watershed. Managers and policymakers must recognize that modern forest practices have a short history and there is little documentation of long-term effects. Increased efforts are needed for well-designed, long-term, and integrated approaches for monitoring forest sustainability.
Keywords
Keywords: Applegate watershed,
landscape level,
forest management,
social values,
spatial and temporal scales,
sustainability
Citation
Amaranthus, Michael P. 1997. Forest sustainability: an approach to definition and assessment at the landscape level. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-416. Portland OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 14 p
