Author Description

The polar extremes of conservation and development of publicly owned native forests are vigorously argued by the respective interest groups. Biodiversity, climate change, protecting rare and endangered species and ecosystems, ecotourism, water quality, protecting the interests of indigenous people, sustainable management, economic development, and ensuring community stability are but a few of the issues raised by these groups. International agreements are being pursued to achieve sustainable management of tropical forests, most of which are publicly owned, by 2000. Similar measures have been proposed for temperate forests. Rational resolution of these controversies is not simple because many of the variables are difficult to define and measure, the time periods involved are long and clouded by uncertainties, and the institutional processes are complex. This book represents an attempt to integrate knowledge and processes relating to forest management across a wide range of disciplines. Written for people interested in environmental management issues to studying environmental science, natural resources, or land and forest management, its principal aim is to critically review and synthesize the underlying elements of these controversies and to place them within an ordered framework of processes for choice. It doesn't provide a universal solution, but rather contributes to a better understanding and analysis of the issues. This may seem at odds with the title of a book, but such an understanding is the very essence of sustainable management.