Both biologically and economically, forests are one of the most important ecosystems on Earth. Forests form the foundation of many human economies, providing thousands of jobs as well as many of the materials, foods, and medicines upon which our society depends. They constitute many of the remaining reservoirs of biodiversity and also serve as giant ecological filters, maintaining clean water, absorbing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, and even helping to regulate the weather. Maintaining healthy forests is critical to our long-term well-being.
Unfortunately, nearly every forest in the world has been greatly affected by human activities, and we must therefore assume the responsibility of their management. Even in the absence of continued human activities, maintaining healthy forests is not easy, and we are only beginning to understand these highly complex ecosystems. SEI researchers are studying how to manage forests in a balanced way, conserving and protecting their fragile ecologies while allowing for society’s needs. As in all of our work, we emphasize positive, proactive approaches which involve partners from all sides of the issue.
