Nature also influences personal values that enrich the human spirit and guide behavior. Alternately, humans have a long history of manipulating the natural environment to produce desired products and services. Economic philosophy that emphasizes a short-term profit motive and the food, fiber and energy demand of an ever expanding population have dramatically changed the natural landscape. Because human land use has such a profound impact on the natural ecosystem, social components often drive the whole interrelated biological and physical system. Management is a socially or human constructed process of controlling human uses of natural resources in a specific area.
Management starts with people identifying problems and defining the area to be managed.
The problem, the desired conditions or management goals and the way to achieve the goals are based on people's values , attitudes , needs and knowledge. Management decisions often encompass complex and interrelated biological, cultural, political, and economic issues. Management decisions are, however, often based on the most easily identifiable goals and concerns. With the necessity of providing a living, landowners often base management decisions on short-term economic goals and concerns. This can compromise the long-term health and productivity of the land and the larger ecosystem.