Mankind has caused serious damage to the planet's forests, but sustainable forestry is now more than just a principle; it has been codified in international law. Examples include the Montreal process, with its criteria and indicators; the green accreditation and labeling system; the International Tropical Timber Association (ITTO); and the criteria for sustainable development in tropical forests by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). Many of the world's countries have also made other commitments to sustainable forestry. These examples demonstrate the importance and necessity of sustainability. As a part of the global village, Taiwan feels the pressures of global trade and politics, and consciously or unconsciously it has moved with the tide towards refocusing on sustainable forestry. Taiwan's first major step towards sustainability came with the ecosystem management plan for the Lioukuei experimental forest.
Ecosystem management involves a scientific understanding of forest ecology, and using that knowledge to meet the challenge of changing human demand and environmental constraints. The objective is sustainable development; this much is universally agreed. However, the scope of ecosystem management is very broad, and progress in many aspects is still in the experimental phase. There is no widely accepted model to follow. TFRI understands that ecosystem management plans must draw on a range of disciplines, and must be implemented by a whole team. Our working groups implement plans gradually, assessing and discussing conditions at each step.
The success of current management plans has allowed TFRI to expand its functions as it developed the Lioukuei management plan.
TFRI projects on forest ecosystem management include the following:
- Developing Taiwanese expertise and bringing Taiwan up to date with international practice by publishing translations of foreign books and papers, organizing international seminars, lectures and technical forums.
- Forest land classification; developing a monitoring system for ecosystem managers.
- Quantifying the effects of forests on improving water resources and absorbing carbon dioxide
- Developing coast ecosystem management and alternative silviculture practices
- Developing systems for eco-tourism and in-the-field education
- Designing and operating a model ecosystem management plan at Lioukuei
- Actively working with foreign companies and research groups, and establishing cooperation agreements