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EVALUATING "PLANTED FOREST" SUSTAINABILITY The notion that "forest plantations" are inherently less sustainable than "natural forests," or provide inferior ecological values, is an increasingly important part of the preservationist dogma on acceptable and unacceptable forestry. Howver, a U.S. Forest Service researcher, Dr. Robert Powers, has confronted some of these assumptions in his paper "On the Sustainable Productivity of Planted Forests" (New Forests 17:263-306). Dr. Powers finds that forest plantations are not inherently unstable and do provide valuable ecological functions; furthermore, that they generally respond more consistently and predictably to management treatments than do natural forests. From the abstract: "Criticisms of plantation forestry are discussed from the basis of world experience, and examples of productivity decline are described. Obvious declines are rare, and can be attributed to poor soil management. However, ambiguities exist and controversy will continue until sustainable productivity can be demonstrated." Reprints are available from the author at rpowers@c-zone.net. Back to "News" Forest Resources Association
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