19 Jul What is Sustainable Forest Management?
What happens to a company or organization that lacks proper resource management? The answer is simple and straightforward: a company without good management does not survive in the market. Unfortunately, this is what happens to thousands of companies that cease their activities every year.
The issue is that where there are resources, good management is essential. This is because resources are scarce, and without proper management, they cease to exist.
The same applies to nature. Nature is full of resources and benefits for humanity. However, without good management, all this wealth may eventually deplete. Yes, natural resources are also scarce, and their absence means the end of humanity. That’s why Sustainable Forest Management is so important!
What is the purpose of Sustainable Forest Management?
The main goal of Sustainable Forest Management is the responsible use of natural resources without causing significant harm to the environment. It seeks to ensure the continuity and renewal of these resources, allowing their constant use in the long term. In other words, sustainable management acts as a steward of the “natural capital” of forests, preventing their depletion.
Sustainable Forest Management contributes to the conservation and proper use of forest cover while favoring the development of quantitative techniques to make decisions about the composition, structure, and location of a forest.
By adopting sustainable management, it is possible to preserve the ecological integrity of the forest, ensuring the conservation of biodiversity, soil quality, and water. In addition, Sustainable Forest Management allows for the use of multiple timber species, the production of multiple non-timber products and by-products, as well as the use of other forest goods and services.
How does its implementation work?
The implementation of Sustainable Forest Management follows a well-defined process, consisting of various stages and practices that ensure the responsible use of forest resources. It all starts with meticulous planning, where management objectives are established, the characteristics of the forest area are assessed, the species present are identified, and local socio-economic aspects are considered. Based on this information, a detailed management plan is developed.
Throughout the Sustainable Forest Management process, continuous monitoring of the area is essential. This involves checking the results of the adopted management practices, monitoring forest regeneration, checking biodiversity conservation, and evaluating soil and water quality, among other aspects. In addition, measures to combat fires and prevent illegal activities, such as illegal logging, are implemented.
To ensure that all these actions are carried out credibly and effectively, geotechnologies play a fundamental role. Through the use of technologies such as remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and other advanced tools, it is possible to measure, monitor, and map the different variables related to forest management accurately and in detail. This allows obtaining reliable information about the area’s status, the impact of management practices, and the evolution over time.
Benefits of Sustainable Forest Management
Among the advantages of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), we can highlight the continuous production of wood in a forest area indefinitely. This means that the forest can sustainably provide wood over time without depleting itself. Additionally, forest management also offers significant economic benefits, such as increased profitability due to increased labor productivity and reduced waste.
Another advantage of adopting sustainable forest management is compliance with legislation. Since companies that follow the management plan correctly are in compliance with regulations.
Moreover, SFM presents market opportunities. The demand for certified wood is high, especially in demanding international markets such as Europe and North America. By obtaining certification, companies practicing forest management have facilitated access to these markets, which can result in competitive advantages and more business opportunities.
Forest conservation is another important advantage. Through sustainable management, it is possible to ensure forest cover and preserve the original plant diversity. This helps protect ecosystems, keeping them healthy and resilient.
Finally, forests play a crucial role in providing environmental services essential to addressing challenges such as climate change and biodiversity conservation. They contribute to the balance of the regional and global climate by helping maintain the hydrological cycle and carbon retention. That said, Sustainable Forest Management is an excellent alternative to benefit from the resources provided by forests and promote conservation simultaneously.