The course will introduce you to the seven main criteria that define how forests should be managed. These are:
- Conservation of biological diversity
- Maintenance of the productive capacity of forest ecosystems
- Maintenance of forest ecosystem health and vitality
- Conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources
- Maintenance of forest contribution to global carbon cycles
- Maintenance and enhancement of long-term multiple socio-economic benefits
- Legal, institutional and economic framework for forest conservation and sustainable management
The first six of these criteria define the core aims of sustainable forest management, and the seventh outlines the necessary conditions that must be present in a country if sustainable forest management is to succeed.
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- Explain the principles of sustainable forest management.
- Apply the principles of sustainable forest management within the context of climate change.
- Compare and assess the major components of sustainable forest management.
- Analyze and solve the complex problems faced by modern forest managers.