Sustainable forest management can not disregard the current knowledge on ecology and conservation

Abstract

In this note, the new Italian law for active forestry is discussed in relation to sustainable forest management criteria. In particular, we discuss how the law has serious flaws concerning the aim of “Maintenance, conservation and appropriate enhancement of biological diversity in forest ecosystems”. We ask for an inclusion of conservation biology principles following the “Half of the Earth Paradigm” stated by Edward Wilson to ensure forest biodiversity conservation for future generation. A sustainable forest policy should also consider adequate criteria for the preservation of existing old growth forests and the rewilding of remote or strategic environments at regional level through the ecological planning of strict reserves in the different ecoregions.

Keywords

• Sustainable Forest Management
• Forest Europe
• Conservation Biology
• Biodiversity
• Naturalness
• Rewilding