Sustainable forestry is an emerging concept for managing renewable forest resources. It is a complex term that means different things to different people. As the Maryland SFI sponsor, MFA is committed to supporting and incorporating the initiative through the Maryland Master Logger Program and other educational efforts. It is based largely on the report of Bruntland Commission on Sustainable Development adopted by the international Earth Summit held in Rio de Janerio in 1992. Sustainable forestry means managing our forests to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs by practicing a land stewardship ethic which integrates the growing, nurturing, and harvesting of trees for useful products with the conservation of soil, air and water quality, and wildlife and fish habitat.
Sustainable forestry is the destination.
The Forest Principles and Implementation Guidelines are the path to get us there. The Forest Principles spell out five broad elements of sustainable forestry. Promote both environmentally and economically responsible practices on all forestlands. Improve long-term forest health and productivity by protecting forests against wildfires, pests, and disease. Manage forests of biological, geological, or historical significance to protect their special qualities.