Forestry management is a toolkit of techniques, concepts, and strategies used to balance economic, social, and forestry requirements into the administration of large forests. Forestry is the study of trees and the related ecosystems. As a branch of forestry, this discipline is the practical acknowledgment of these pressures and the development of standards to balance conflicting requirements.
There are two primary aspects to forestry management: administrative and scientific. The administrative aspect is focused on supporting the economic and social needs of forestry. The scientific aspect is focused on the exploration and understanding of the forest ecosystem and the impact of the forest in the global environment.
From the administrative perspective of forestry management, it is generally accepted that logging is necessary to support local economies and to provide raw materials for a range of products and needs. The enforcement of strict rules surrounding this activity and working in partnership with the forestry industry is essential to avoiding widespread forest devastation, but also allowing the forest to be cut down.
The techniques used include replanting requirements, limiting the amount of logging in a specific area, the methods used to extract the logs from the forest, and more. Adherence to these rules can be monitored using global satellite images, which track the status and size of the forest canopies. Legal enforcement is less common, but still an excellent motivator for compliance.
From a scientific aspect, determining how much of a forest can be cut down without irreparably harming the forest is essential. The time frame of the replanting efforts, along with the success or failure of those efforts plays a huge role in the forest management procedures. Research into this area is growing rapidly, as the long-term impacts for a specific area are large.
The increased public profile of the environment and concerns for the future of the planet and the impact on the utilization of natural resources has significantly increased the profile of forestry management. People who are interested in a career in this field should complete a post-secondary training program in forestry, forest management, or environmental science. These programs are widely available from local community colleges or universities.
In 1992, the Forest Principles were adopted as the international standard for sustainable forest management. This high-level document was then used to develop a detailed set of criteria and indicators of forestry management that is used around the world. These standards are designed to provide a framework for the forestry industry, while providing focus for researchers.