The Future for Forests

Abstract

Forests have been important to humans throughout their history; they are important now and will be important in the future. But forests of all types are under heavy pressures, brought about by changing climatic conditions and the impacts of human use and abuse. If we are to successfully mitigate and adapt to the pressures resulting from climate change, and stem the steady reduction of forest area around the world, we need science-driven political action. In view of the prevailing short-term and relentlessly materialistic world mindset,¹ this is going to be difficult to achieve. To make progress, we have to work on increasing, in politicians, planners, and decision makers, awareness of the fact that we are all both consumers and beneficiaries of the natural resources provided by the earth. Forests are not the least among these. We all share the consequences of decisions that affect those resources, either adversely or to our benefit. We also need to raise awareness that the global economy is inextricably linked to the ecological benefits provided by the earth’s ecosystems, so changes to those ecosystems have far-reaching implications.