Adaptive Forest Management

Adaptive Forest Management

Adaptive management is defined in The Dictionary of Forestry (Helms 1998) as "a dynamic approach to forest management in which the effects of treaments and decisions are continually monitored and used, along with research results, to modify management on a continuing basis to ensure that objectives are being met." As such, Adaptive Forest Management can be pictured as a procedural approach to management which has been developed to enable forest managers to improve the effectiveness of their management systems through formal commitment to performance evaluation procedures. This approach has been developed to ensure that management is consistent, structured, and involves auditable practices. The process of Adaptive Forest Management (above) includes steps for planning, developing operational guidelines, monitoring outcomes, evaluation, response, and reporting to stakeholders (Raison 2002). This type of system is based on the principles of openness, transparency, and accountability. All stakeholders are able to participate, there is clarity in decision-making, and specific individuals are responsible for carrying out the desired actions.

The planning process involves setting goals and objectives for the each resource to be managed, i.e. soils, water, vegetation, biodiversity. Openness and transparency are key to this part of the process and at all levels of the organization.

Operational guidelines are the implementation stage of adaptive forest management. Processes, resources, and responsible individuals are identified to carry out the goals and objectives identified in the planning process.

Standards and other appropriate information are necessary for the monitoring and evaluation stages. Independent auditing is becoming more and more acceptable during these stages. (International agreements, standards, and protocols are discussed in more detail in later sections.) Monitoring is performed to ensure compliance with the plans developed and an evaluation is conducted to ensure that practices are sustainable.

The agreed responses stage involves adapting plans based on the monitoring and evaluation conducted. Plans should be adapted based on advances in management techniques and site specific changes over time.

The final stage to complete the cycle is reporting to stakeholders. Reporting helps to ensure accountability and helps maintain the openness and transparency crucial to the entire adaptive forest management system.

While reporting to stakeholders is considered the last step in the process of adaptive forest management, it should be understood that the process does not stop at this point. Rather, Adaptive Forest Management is an ongoing process to promote continual maintenance and improvement in management practices and forest conditions.

Concepts and procedures embodied in Adaptive Forest Management are being applied throughout the world, and, for example, are reflected in position statements developed by the Society of American Foresters in the Inland Empire region of the Western U.S. This is another example where the theoretical concepts of sustainability are being applied on the ground and affecting day-to-day management of our nations forests.