Development or dependency? Sustaining Alabama's forest communities

Abstract

Comparison of two forest-dependent communities in Alabama illustrates how prospects for sustainable development are shaped by history, social structure, prevailing pattern of resource ownership, and forest industrial sector structure. Opportunities appear stronger if a community's forest products industry is diversified and entreprenurial spirit is strong. Conversely, simply recruiting forest industry will not lead to sustainable development and might, in the absence of sound policy, actually impede it. Truly sustainable development requires expanding people's opportunities and protecting and enhancing the natural resource base on which those opportunities are built.