Forest Policy and the Environment: Changing Paradigms

Environmental concerns now play a significant role in the formation of forest policy. In this paper, two approaches to environmental aspects of forestry policy are discussed - a social science approach that attempts to maximize net social benefits by including environmental concerns in the economic calculus, and a more biocentric approach that is based on the "natural disturbance paradigm". The potential strengths and weaknesses of each approach to forest management policy are examined. The conclusion is that a combination of these approaches is required if we are to successfully integrate economic development of forestlands with environmental concerns