Some forestlands are an important source of minerals, and others provide space for utility lines, transportation corridors, reservoirs, and other land-consuming uses. What Multiple Use Is Increasing demands on limited forestlands can be met with coordination of uses on specific areas. Foresters have developed and applied the concept of multiple use whereby land is managed for a variety of purposes that utilize, without impairment, the capabilities of the land to meet different demands simultaneously. Properly implemented, multiple use sustains production and avoids environmental deterioration. The multiple-use strategy takes effective advantage of capabilities of diverse portions of a forest to meet both current and projected demands.
Many benefits accrue on a forest regardless of the management strategy employed.
For example, a forest managed exclusively for recreation can provide water, climatic, and wildlife benefits. Similarly, one managed exclusively for timber can provide water, climatic, wildlife, and recreation benefits. It is extremely difficult to visualize any exclusive forest use that does not also provide other benefits. The supply of forestlands is inadequate to meet all demands, but the multiple-use strategy normally provides the largest sum of social, economic, and spiritual benefits. Use and management of forestlands and forest resources are determined in large measure by the objectives, policies, and means of the landowner, whether the people of a political unit, shareholders of a corporation, or an individual.