Sustainability of Forestry: Why, What, and How?, 1995 Environmental Conference Proceedings

Thomas A. Snellgrove

USDA Forest Service

Sustainable development has gained worldwide prominence and it calls for us to be concerned for sustaining people, and the ecosystem upon which we all depend. It is clear that there has been a major shift in the way resource managers are being expected to manage lands, ". . .change is not only necessary, it is unavoidable." Sustainable forest management is a concept that is being adopted and implemented to ensure that our forests will provide for future generations. The USDA Forest Service is approaching the goal of sustainablility through an ecosystem-based approach to management. Measurability will be key to knowing if we are successful, and is currently being played out internationally through development of Criteria and Indicators. Historically, the U.S. has demonstrated global leadership in forestry aimed at producing outputs. Now we need to step up to a higher plane and demonstrate that we will continue to be international leaders in this new era of ecosystem-based management for sustainable forests.