TY - CHAP

T1 - The citizens forest model

T2 - Climate change, preservation of natural resources and forest ethics

AU - Simon, J. W.

AU - Bode, W.

PY - 2012/5/1

Y1 - 2012/5/1

N2 - Climate change, air pollution and especially short-rotation forestry are the main causes for increasing detrimental effects on forests. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to find effective counteractions to this damage so that forests will become resistant, grow sustainably, and are more economically effective and thus contribute optimally to the common welfare of all citizens. 'Continuous mixed forestry', in contrast to the normally used short-rotation or age-classed-forestry, is one suitable model to counteract climate change and air pollution in this way on both the local and national level. It is forestry without clear-cuts and biocides and with soft logging by continuous thinning and natural regeneration. The necessary change to this sustainable cultivation model is generally possible and necessary all over Europe and in other areas of the world. A very good chance for this type of forestry is available now within the framework of selling state-owned forests to private investors. This selling is planned by governments in some countries like the Great Britain and has been partly realised on a large scale in Germany. This article proposes selling the state-owned forests to a central, private national heritage foundation as a first step instead of transferring them with their traditional, mismanaged short rotation or age-classed forestry to private investors who would continue the state mismanagement. The task of the foundation would be to organise the 'citizen forest society' as a social-ethics based society that is privately owned by citizens and the foundation. This would generate ecological advantages for the forest and, moreover, long-lasting profits for citizens because the foundation would establish other organisations where the citizens become responsible owners of 'their' forest without any governmental or third-party influence. This proposal describes a solution to the demands of social-oriented ethics, which are primarily focused on the cooperation of responsible persons, represented by the private ownership of the forests, and directed by a responsible foundation.

AB - Climate change, air pollution and especially short-rotation forestry are the main causes for increasing detrimental effects on forests. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to find effective counteractions to this damage so that forests will become resistant, grow sustainably, and are more economically effective and thus contribute optimally to the common welfare of all citizens. 'Continuous mixed forestry', in contrast to the normally used short-rotation or age-classed-forestry, is one suitable model to counteract climate change and air pollution in this way on both the local and national level. It is forestry without clear-cuts and biocides and with soft logging by continuous thinning and natural regeneration. The necessary change to this sustainable cultivation model is generally possible and necessary all over Europe and in other areas of the world. A very good chance for this type of forestry is available now within the framework of selling state-owned forests to private investors. This selling is planned by governments in some countries like the Great Britain and has been partly realised on a large scale in Germany. This article proposes selling the state-owned forests to a central, private national heritage foundation as a first step instead of transferring them with their traditional, mismanaged short rotation or age-classed forestry to private investors who would continue the state mismanagement. The task of the foundation would be to organise the 'citizen forest society' as a social-ethics based society that is privately owned by citizens and the foundation. This would generate ecological advantages for the forest and, moreover, long-lasting profits for citizens because the foundation would establish other organisations where the citizens become responsible owners of 'their' forest without any governmental or third-party influence. This proposal describes a solution to the demands of social-oriented ethics, which are primarily focused on the cooperation of responsible persons, represented by the private ownership of the forests, and directed by a responsible foundation.

KW - Citizen forest society

KW - Continuous mixed forestry

KW - Social forest ethics

KW - Law

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84930977618&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3920/978-90-8686-753-0_18

DO - 10.3920/978-90-8686-753-0_18

M3 - Chapter

AN - SCOPUS:84930977618

SN - 9086861970

SN - 9789086861972

SP - 137

EP - 141

BT - Climate Change and Sustainable Development

A2 - Potthast, Thomas

A2 - Meisch, Simon

PB - Wageningen Academic Publishers

ER -