Toward sustainable forestry in a changing world

Conventional forestry practices at local, regional, and global scales are increasingly being challenged by a society that demands more than just timber. Today, forests are expected to provide a wide range of ecosystem goods and services while being managed in a responsible and sustainable way. This shift in societal expectations calls for a more environmentally conscious approach to forest management, both in natural forests and plantations. Caring for forests—alongside generating economic returns for landowners—has become a key priority. As a result, new and exciting challenges are emerging for forest sciences in general, and for silviculture in particular. In this context, it is essential that policymakers, scientists, professionals, and landowners take new directions to help balance forestry practices and enhance the sustainability of socio-ecological systems. Current scientific trends suggest that the ecosystem management paradigm can provide valuable insights into how we can maintain ecological functions while ensuring the provision of ecosystem goods and services across multiple scales. At present, I am developing novel silvicultural approaches that seek to integrate ecological theory and complexity science. My goal is to contribute to a deeper understanding of socio-ecological systems in times of global change.