Trees felled.
Environmental forestry refers to the restricted felling of trees in specific areas to minimize the impact of deforestation on the environment. Also called land conservation or forest conservation, the field often focuses on balancing ecological integrity goals with economic and social benefits. Environmental forestry also tries to preserve forests threatened by abuse.
Environmental forestry involves managing logging to minimize its impact.
The different sections of a forest are interdependent. As a result, environmental forestry often deals with entire forest regions. Tropical forests, for example, may die if they are reduced in size, because they would not receive the necessary amount of moisture. Logging of certain areas can also limit the food resources of animals, decreasing their population throughout the forest.
Conservation is one of the main responsibilities of environmental forestry.
Large-scale industrial housing and road construction has left many forests around the world in a rapidly deteriorating condition. Since then, efforts have been made to restore forests and revitalize rural communities. Preserving the ecological integrity of a forest implies protecting the natural processes that occur in the region. For example, the movement and distribution of water, or natural hydraulics, are important in protecting animal habitats, plant growth, and forest floors. Environmental forestry also focuses on conserving unique aspects of the forest, such as natural springs or rare flora.
Land conservation can also help landowners manage their land more effectively. Some landowners use their land to attract wild animals for hunting or recreation. Others may be involved in the timber business and demand a profitable and sustainable plan to cut down trees. To do this, they need to protect the health of the forest and the quality of the water.
Some people may purchase entire sections of land for the sole purpose of conservation. Environmentalists may also designate areas of the forest, as natural reservoirs, to be protected from human influence. However, there are often risks of poaching and illegal logging. To deal with this problem, some owners may choose to live in and control the acquired land. They can live in tree houses or dirt houses that resemble their natural environment.
Environmental forestry can benefit not only the owner of the land, but also the land itself and society in general. Caring for the land attracts and protects plants and animals that depend on specific natural habitats to survive. People who live downstream from the forest may also need a clean water supply. Preserving the forest is also important for future generations.