When Is a Forest Not a Forest?

In this: publication
By this: publisher
In this Subject: Forestry
By this author: Lund H.G.

Author: Lund H.G.

Source: Journal of Forestry, Volume 100, Number 8, December 2002 , pp. 21-28(8)

Publisher: Society of American Foresters

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Abstract:

Numerous published and legitimate definitions of forest exist. Most can be grouped into three categories–those that describe administrative units, those that describe land cover, and those that mean a type of land use–and then there are some miscellaneous types. Definitions vary widely from country to country and even among US federal agencies, sometimes with legal and policy ramifications. Agreement on the meaning of such terms as forest and forestland is a logical first step in reaching agreement on natural resource problems. Threshold values–minimum area, strip width, canopy cover, and tree height–are especially important for identifying classes of land.

Keywords: communication; education; international forestry; policy; environmental management; forest; forest management; forest resources; forestry; forestry research; forestry science; natural resources; natural resource management