Forest governance and sustainable logging practices: an environmental concern

Abstract

The ability of a country to follow sustainable development path is determined by the capacity of its people and institutions. A decision to pursue sustainable forest management (SFM), as a development strategy, must analyze timber-harvesting practices and associated ecological / environmental impacts. It should also encourage institutional efforts and support in concert with the participatory role of the nation's forestry professionals. Logging or timber harvesting outside the realm of SFM is counter-productive to the environment. Nevertheless, effective codes of timber harvest cannot be developed in isolation of potential users and interested parties. For logging operations to be environmentally friendly, stakeholders must communicate and have a comprehensive harvest planning; effective implementation and control of logging practices; a thorough assessment of post-harvest regimes; communication of assessment results to the planning team in addition to having a competent and properly motivated work force. A building block for success is a well-informed management and governance structure. Suffice to say, environmental and social harmony are essential ingredients for a workable mitigation paradigm that will trim down inefficient and illegal logging activities.