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Forestry
Sustainability of our forests is what it's all about. And with good planning, we can have sustainability in actively managed forests. The following article is from the Tree Tips & Forest Facts column of the Mendocino County Observer, written by Clare Nunamaker (aka Clarelynn Rose).
The Three Legs of Sustainability - Ecological, Social, and Economic The word "sustainability" means different things to different people. My own ideas of sustainability in terms of forest management have been influenced from work on Forest Stewardship Council certifications, where the three legs of sustainability are emphasized: ecological, social, and economic.
The basic idea is that in order to be truly sustainable, a forest management system must be sustainable over the long term in all three of these areas. Just as a three-legged stool needs legs of equal strength to function properly, so does forest management. For example, if management provides well for ecological sustainability but doesn't provide sufficient economic incentive, the land use will change, perhaps being converted to non-forest uses. Or, if workers and the local community receive strong economic benefits by engaging in management so intensive that it's not ecologically sustainable, the system won't survive over the long term.
Ecological sustainability looks at natural systems and how our actions affect them. This includes obvious issues like rotation age and wildlife habitat, as well as less obvious issues like proper maintenance of roads, ensuring genetic diversity, and monitoring and assessment.
Social issues cover a broad range of topics. On the level of individuals, it can mean taking measures that treat workers and community members fairly, or having effective conflict resolution measures in place. On a broader level, it includes things like payment of taxes and compliance with local, regional, national and even international laws and treaties.
Economic sustainability is largely about seeing that the dollars add up. There must be sufficient revenue for an operation to remain financially viable and have enough for reinvestment. Doing so allows the operation to pay for measures needed to ensure ecological and social sustainability.
The ways to create sustainable systems are as varied as forest ecosystems themselves. But although they vary, there is a compelling argument to be made that systems that are sustainable in the long term have one thing in common - a strong foundation in the three legs of sustainability.
