Forest Regulations in the United States and Selected Countries: A Comparison, 1995 Environmental Conference Proceedings

R. C. Kellison

North Carolina State University

An unofficial oral survey was conducted with a forestry official from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Indonesia, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, Venezuela and Zimbabwe, and the results were compared to forest regulations in the southern United States. The results indicate that the regulations are similar in each country. Even though Sweden has the reputation of being the most stringent country in the world for the application of forest practices, it was revealing to learn that South Africa is practicing a form of ecosystem management that is equal or superior to all other countries surveyed. New Zealand is also approaching ecosystem management on a watershed basis. The conclusion is that all countries have forest regulations to one degree or another. Since the United States is ahead of some countries and behind others, it doesn’t appear that our country is being unfairly treated. If we are to remain competitive on the international scale, it is obvious that we must do a better job in growing, harvesting and processing the timber than our counterparts. It’s relatively assured that we will not retain prominence by trying to belittle our competitors on environmental issues.