Document: JER-3-12-2

Emerging issues facing ecologists and managers dealing wth biological diversity.

FRANKLIN, J.F.*

University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA ¹

Abstract:
Efforts to develop practical and meaningful approaches to management of biological diversity on public and private lands are surfacing an array of technical and social issues that have gone unrecognized or been ignored by both academic scientists and managers. Important technical issues include the importance and effectiveness of various management approaches on the unreserved lands (matrix), quantitative responses of diversity and other environmental variables to varying levels of management effort (e.g., green tree retention), and design of monitoring programs that are technically sound and practical in terms of logistics and cost. Important social issues include aggressive opposition by many environmental groups to essentially any commercial timber harvest program on public and even private lands, in some cases, misuse of scientific information and approaches by both environmentalists and commercial interests, and the absence of good processes for developing consensus at local, national, and global levels. Some promising new elements are recognition of the potential positive role of forests in carbon sequestration (and of traditional forest management as being a carbon emitting activity) and development of credible "green" forest certification programs; these also need to be carefully nurtured to be sure that they develop in ways that will enhance environmental goals.

Keywords: biological diversity, management, social issues

This abstract is being presented at: 1:05 PM in session:
Symposium # 22: Species Diversity at Broad Scales: Linking Science and Management.