Dear netters: I hope that at least a few of you will agree with the following position statement from a well known professional society. Even though it is a prediction about the future, I certainly agree that "If human populations expand substantially in the future, considerable increases in the demands on forestland resources will occur." ------------------------------ The Management of Natural Resources in the Face of an Increasing Human Population* The relationship of human populations to forestland resources is a critical factor in achieving the full benefits of those resources. As human populations continue to increase substantially, increased demands of forestland resources will result. The United States has the capacity to provide leadership in this global population challenge—as it has done in the conservation movement. Our legislative measures to ameliorate air and water pollution and toxic wastes and to protect endangered species and wildlands have established a world standard. Yet these measures treat only the symptoms of uncontrolled population growth. This primary conservation issue has yet to be seriously addressed by the nation. Professional foresters are concerned about the destruction and degradation of habitat for both humans and wildlife. Mounting population pressures not only lower the quality of life for humans but also contribute to the extinction of plant and wildlife species. The parallels of current population trends to wildlife management principles are obvious—in some places people are overrunning their own habitat and that of other life forms and making natural-resource management ineffectual. The best science and technology we can devise will not extricate us from the absolute limitations of the carrying capacity of our environment. The relationship of human populations for forestland resources is a critical factor in optimizing forest benefits. If human populations expand substantially in the future, considerable increases in the demands on forestland resources will occur. While recognizing that the much debated political aspects of population policy are peripheral to the expertise of forest management and conservation efforts depends on the resolution of this major domestic and global challenge. Therefore, the Society encourages efforts to place before the public scientific information on the dangers of unlimited population expansion and the land-management options that will have to be faced. * The above is a Position of the Society of American Foresters Originally adopted by the SAF Council on May 2, 1984. David South School of Forestry Auburn University, AL 36849-5418 dsouth@forestry.auburn.edu 334-844-1022 334-844-1084 (FAX)
Mail converted by
MHonArc 1.1.0