Open AccessHistorical roots and the evolving science of forest management under a systemic perspective
Author(s) -
Susanocentini,
Orazio Ciancio,
Luigi Portoghesi,
Piermaria Corona
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
canadian journal of forest research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1208-6037
pISSN - 0045-5067
DOI - 10.1139/cjfr-2020-0293
Subject(s) - forest management , context (archaeology) , determinism , silviculture , predictability , perspective (graphical) , philosophy of science , conceptual framework , adaptive management , sociology , environmental resource management , environmental ethics , epistemology , social science , geography , forestry , economics , computer science , philosophy , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , physics , archaeology
In recent history, both a growing awareness of how scientific and societal uncertainty impacts management decisions and of the intrinsic value of nature have suggested new approaches to forest management, with a growing debate in forest science over the need for a paradigmatic shift from the classic conventional world view, based on determinism, predictability, and output-oriented management, towards a world view that has roots in complex adaptive systems theory and is consistent with a nature-based ethic. A conceptual framework under this context is provided by systemic silviculture. In this discussion, we analyze how this approach can be linked to three fundamental moments of the history of forestry and forest science: the Dauerwald theory, Gurnaud’s control method, and the origins of environmental ethics. Relationships with the recent history of forest management science and current research perspectives are also highlighted.