Timber production and ecosystems - pleasee help!!

[claireyfairy]

i really need help with this question,

using timber production in temperature countries as an example, explain how ecosystems can be managed in a sustainable way.


thanks claire

[mith]

Well, look it up online...

[James]

Sounds like A level geography to me. Try finding case studies from Brazil, Papua New Guiena, Indonesia etc. Although most of the logging in these countries is actually unsustainable. Think about sustainable methods eg selective felling. There are many methods possible- which you must have learnt about and are what you need to talk about.

[AstusAleator]

Well, the question is addressing "temperature" (temperate forests, so tropical areas like Brazil and Indonesia wouldn't apply.

For an example of this situation, just look at our own beloved northwest.
Forestry as "ecosystem management" is an iffy deal at best. Ultimately forestry is a tool (the trees being the resource) to feed our economy and further development. No matter what methods are used, there will be a cost to the environment.
In your question, you say timber "production" not harvest, so I guess I would like a clarification on what you mean.
Anyhow, I'm assuming you mean forestry as a whole.
Proponents of the timber industry claim that in the absence of a regular fire regime, regular forest thinning (via logging) is a way to sustain a forests natural order of succession and dynamic equilibrium. The problem here is that, in most temperate forests, the normal disturbance regime doesn't cause massive loss of old growth, or large amounts of soil disturbance and erosion.

To address your answer in a more political sense:
If you consider the amount of demand for raw timber resources, on the national and global level, there is no way that we can meet that demand in a sustainable matter.

To further complicate my answer:
The word sustainable is a loaded buzzword and has many different meanings to different people. Here are a few of the possible meanings it could have:
sustainable for the ecosystem
sustainable for the economy
sustainable for culture (way of life)
Do you see what I mean? Applying these different definitions to the original question can result in a very broad array of answers.

So, if I've thoroughly confused you or bored you, I apologize. Just realize that while that question took you a few seconds to type out, it could take a 50 page report or more to adequately address it.

[Linn]

Do you mean mean timber forest planning ?