Concepts of Forest Management in Industrial Regions

Abstract

Owing to the variety of exploitation and management programs, forests should be adapted to serve many functions. However, it often becomes necessary to determine which function has priority in a given area (Anderson 1970, Papanek 1974). Relative to the situation in Polish forestry this is to a certain extent expressed by the designation of production forests and conservation forests of various categories (Lesiński 1974, 1983). Socially suitable hierarchies relative to the importance of various forest functions change with time and depend to a large extent on the state of social consciousness as determined by the degree of cultural development. However, the final selection of major function is determined primarily by location of the forest in question, on its suitability to serve a particular function, which in turn depends primarily on site conditions, specific composition, and state of health. Thus one may speak of forests that are adapted or non-adapted to specific social functions. The latter category would include artificial pine and spruce plantations growing on unsuitable sites and endangered by various calamities.