A healthy forest is one that maintains the function, diversity, and resiliency of all its components, such as wildlife and fish habitat, riparian areas, soils, rangelands, and economic potential and will require active management. We must use all available tools and continue our search for new ones. Third, we must more effectively communicate the many environmental and economic benefits of restoring forest health as well as the consequences of inaction. If people do not support restoration of forest health, then all of our best efforts will be wasted. I would like to concentrate my remarks today on how we can work together to develop a strong network of healthy forests.
Forest ecosystems are dynamic and ever changing.
We now know the futility of trying to maintain static and predictable forest conditions. We recognize that natural disturbances such as fire, flood, insects, disease, and hurricanes are not only inevitable, they are necessary to maintain the health, diversity, and productivity of a forest ecosystem. Understanding the role and function of natural disturbances and the effects of human-induced ones is prerequisite to restoring and sustaining healthy ecosystems. How we integrate these relatively straightforward concepts into our restoration efforts is the challenge. Inventory and Assessments Establishing priorities for restoration projects requires a clear understanding of forest ecosystem conditions and trends.