A Need for Extensive Forest Management

Abstract

Canada with its large amount of forest land of low productivity should manage the majority of the forest extensively rather than intensively. Extensive management can keep our stumpage rates or subsidies low, and help us remain competitive with the expanding areas of more productive forest in the world. Factors that influence and indicate that extensive management is more feasible than intensive management include: the low average productivity of Canadian forests, stumpage rates or subsidies allocation of present funds, present net value calculations, interest rates, risk factors, non-timber values, technological developments, present natural regeneration, lack of management information, current timber supplies, and protection of the forest. The challenges to the forester are to obtain and practice the extensive management skills necessary to produce a profitable resource for world markets. To meet these challenges will require that foresters treat the growing of trees as a profit source rather than as a cost to the people of Canada. Key words: Extensive management, intensive management, forest management.