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Résumé :
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The book has been divided into five sections. The chapters in the first section focus on ecological precesses and principles. They cover a broad range of topics from stand structure and function and disturbance processes to the movement of organisms across landscapes. Together they portray the rich complexity of forest ecosystems. This knowledge provides much of the impetus for major changes in the practice of forest resources management. Section two addresses silvicultural systems. The science of silviculture hasfocused on a narrow set of prescriptions throughout much of its history. The chapters in this section look beyond those bounds. The authors challenge such long-held assumptions as the rationale for clearcutting, the wisdom of short rotations, and exclusion of fire. In addition, some traditional silvicultural tools are examined in light of new and expanded goals for forest landscapes. The chapters in section three explore different aspects of managing at larger spatial scales. To protect and provide for a wide array of ecosystem goods and services, we must manage in the context of large landscapes over long time periods. This has become one of the tenets of ecosystem management Developing agreement over the concept is relatively easy; garnering the knowledge and resources to implement landscape-level management is far more difficult. Authors in this section offer some practical information and ideas to that end. Finally, sections four and five take up economic, organizational, and political issues critical to ecosystem management. In the past, forestru professionals have relegated social issues in forest management to a secondary status - an approach that has erupted in controversies that have shaken the very foundation of the U.S. Forest Service and the forestry profession as a whole. As several authors point out, ecosystem management cannot be built on biological and technical science alone. Ecosystem management will succeed to the degree that we can integrate biological, technical, and social solutions and develop institutions to transform knowledge into action.
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