Management of ecosystems? (experts only plz)?

Question

Can someone explain how the managment of an ecosystem can provide resources in a sustainable fashion?
(timber production)

Answer 1

Sustainable ecosystem management is more of a conceptual approach than it is a scientific theory. The basic idea is that you can substitute human activities for ecological processes by conducting activities in a way that mimics natural processes or features. Its easier said than done since the roles of natural processes such as fire or drought are poorly understood.

What we call sustainable forestry is an extremely simplified view of forest dynamics, where the vegetation is managed to have a certain mix of species, ages, and densities. The ideas is that vegetation can be managed to provide habitat features for fish and wildlife, and timber harvest is substituted for natural disturbances such as fire, insect death, and self-thinning. Timber production becomes a by-product of achieving other goals for vegetative composition and structure, or for fish or wildlife objectives.

Much less timber is produced compared to traditional silviculture.

Answer 2

Basically by managing the ecosystem in a sustainable fashion you are replanting the same amount or more than the original amount than you cut down. This means that the damage to the ecosystem is less, than if you cut the whole lot down.

Many people think that when they cut a tree down, then its only the tree that is affected- This is obviously not true. Think of all the animals and plants that rely on the tree. If you manage the ecosystem the animals have somewhere else to go.

Also, you encourage ppl to only take what they need. This will limit the damage to the ecosystem.

Other things you might want to consider are:
1. Habitat destruction
2. Nutrient loss (think tropical rainforests where nutrients are stored in root mats)
3. Loss of O2 production
4. Loss of CO2 storage (25% of the Earth's CO2 is stored in the Amazon alone)

Answer 3

Cut some down then plant some more.