Conservation of biodiversity: a useful paradigm for forest ecosystem management.

Abstract

The coniferous forests of the Western Hemlock Zone of western Oregon and western Washington are remarkable in the longevity and stature of their trees, long intervals between stand-replacing events, capacity to produce timber, diversity of life forms and species, and controversy over their management. The controversy is hardly new (Overton and Hunt 1974). But the current battle among those primarily interested in short-term commodity extraction, those interested in long-term support of rural communities through sustainable forestry, and those primarily interested in wildlife and recreation is unprecedented in its ecological, social, and economic impacts. We need a better approach to management of forest lands not reserved as natural areas, wildernesses, and parks. If we are to avoid past failures in conservation of natural resources (Ludwig et al. 1993), we must avoid the simplistic trap of viewing issues as timber versus wildlife as or commodity versus intangible values. We must seek reconciliation among the competitors who would use the forests.

Citation

Carey, A.B.; Curtis, R.O. 1996.. Conservation of biodiversity: a useful paradigm for forest ecosystem management. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 24(4): 610-620