19 Cost and Forest Management

From what we have read so far, we have learned the importance of forests to human life. So no matter what, we need to protect forests. But this is not easy economically because the related measures have the risk of causing economic downturn. So we have to understand the cost of protecting forests and think about ways to reduce the economic impact.

This chapter will focus on the management of the cost and forest, and suggest methods of reducing cost when protecting the forest. The article “The cost of protecting forests globally could rise” written by Daniel T Cross from Sustainability Times states that the cost of protecting forests could rise globally “The Cost of Protecting Forests Globally Could Rise.”^[1]. The article also mentioned plants can sequester carbon in the atmosphere to suppress climate change, but the cost of paying for forests and planting trees is extremely high. Conserving forests puts a global pressure on the economy. Effective forest management plays an important role in global climate change, especially through extensive reforestation and tree planting. Based on the analysis of opportunity costs, such as the time, labor, land, and nature resources, and the fact that protecting the forest causes a huge amount of money to the society, there are a few ways to reduce the cost through the forest management, in order to achieve the goal of both protecting the environment and improve the economic growth.

Firstly, farmers can plant trees for marketable products. For example, fruit trees, nut trees and more. While these trees protect the forest, the fruits can also be sold to promote the economic development of the city. The article “When Forest Protection and Economic Renewal Grow Hand in Hand” states that, Brazilian pineapples are grown without destroying the Amazon forest, providing livelihoods while growing trees and plants. Cultivation of pineapples sustains urban areas for the people of Brazil and provides better living conditions for families. The article also mentions that Brazil is experiencing this forest revival and bringing benefits to local people. The Brazilian state of Acre has become a symbol of success in controlling deforestation, restoring degraded land and achieving economic inclusion. Valerie Hickey, the World Bank Practice Manager for the Environment and Natural Resources Global Practice and biodiversity specialist, said that”Acre’s experience makes it clear that forestry and agriculture can and must coexist. Agriculture can take advantage of degraded lands, while forestry is more than conservation and climate values. Forestry creates market opportunities and production activities for people.” ^[2]

The article also mentions that Brazilian nut trees can reach a height of 50 meters and they can live to be 500 years old. These trees absorb carbon, yet the biggest threat to them is deforestation. Rapid tree planting and plantation maintenance can create more jobs and business opportunities, and restored forests can also increase income for landowners while benefiting biodiversity. This is an example of planting trees that can both protect the environment and have commercial value.

Moreover, forest management is another way of both protecting forest and improving economic growth. In the article “Producing edible landscapes in Seattle’s urban forest” by Rebecca McLain, the importance of urban forest management in Seattle is emphasized. In 1903, Seattle hired the Olmsted Company to design a network of boulevards, parks, playgrounds and green belts, so that each residence was within 0.8 kilometers of the green space.^[3] It is Seattle’s public urban forest center, which not only has enough plants, but also has forest beauty and entertainment value. Creating a public urban forest center in the city can not only grow more food to achieve the purpose of protecting the environment, but also can effectively use space. For example, planting plants in green belts not only saves space, but also increases the use of land with aesthetic effect.