A study by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimated that “13 million hectares of the world’s forests are lost due to deforestation each year. The annual net loss of forest area between 2000 and 2005 was 7.3 million hectares (equivalent to the net loss of 0.18 percent of the world’s forests).” There are many reasons for this loss of land. Factors include the conversion of forests to infrastructure or farmland, pollution, illegal logging, mining, oil exploitation, overgrazing, climate change, and general unsustainable forest management. In addition to the significant loss of land, these factors result in decreased biodiversity and a decreased ability for forests to adapt to environmental changes.
In order to combat this problem, a concept called Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) has developed. The goal of SFM is to manage forests responsibly so that they can be sustained for generations to come. SFM encompasses environmental, social, economic, and legal aspects of conservation to successfully execute sustainable forestry within our present society.
Various organizations have been established to develop and promote SFM. One is Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI). SFI is a nonprofit organization and acts in many ways to further SFM. SFI provides certification to products and services that meet SFI’s standards of sustainable production. These standards encompass 14 core principles of sustainable forestry, such as protecting water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk, and forests with exceptional conservation value. SFI also facilitates connections and partnerships between organizations interested in forestry conservation. SFI also researches factors pertaining to forestry such as climate change and bioenergy.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is another nonprofit that strives to increase sustainable forestry. They also have a certification program to reward organizations whose production practices align with healthy forestry practices. They have projects being worked on around the globe, from a pest management program, to a generic indicators program, to a project investigating further necessary FSC certifications.
These organizations demonstrate a commitment to the important practice of Sustainable Forestry Management. By keeping choosing products with the SFI or FSC certification label, you can support responsible forestry as well.
Written by Abigail Fagan, Class of 2014
Photo by Nature reserve – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia en.wikipedia.org4288 × 2848Search by image, The largest single reserve is Hanstholm Nature Reserve, which covers 40 km2 (9,900 acres) and is part of Thy National Park.
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