A need for extensive forest management

Abstract

Canada with its large amount of forest land of low productivity should manage the majority extensively rather than intensively. Extensive management can keep stumpage rates or subsidies low, and help to retain competitiveness with the expanding areas of more productive forest in the world. Factors indicating that extensive management is more feasible than intensive management include: the low average productivity of Canadian forests, stumpage rates or subsidies, allocation of present funds, present net value calculations, interest rates, risk factors, non-timber values, technological developments, present natural regeneration, lack of management information, current timber supplies, and protection of the forest. Foresters must treat the growing of trees as a profit source rather than as a cost to the people of Canada. -from Author