IUFRO Working Unit 6.03.02 - "Trends in forest terminology"


Discussion Groups on Forest Terminology


One of WU 6.03.02's current activities is to set up discussion groups on selected forest-related topics or terminological issues. These discussion groups operate via Internet as moderated mailing lists. Their lifespan is determined by the moderator but should remain short (less than 6 months). The current discussion group focusses on forest health and related concepts.

What is forest health?

In the last 20 years, forest health has been an issue of concern for many scientists, resource managers, administrators, NGOs, and the public throughout the world. Some forests have been subject to profound, and often undesirable changes in ecosystem composition, structure and function. Numerous studies have been carried out to understand how ecoystems function, and how anthropogenic influences affect the integrity of these ecosystems. Still, the concept of forest health remains vague. Many definitions have been proposed, and the debate is far from finished. So, what is forest health?

We believe that many people could profit from a discussion relating to concepts of forest health. As scientists dealing with forest health issues in Canada and in Switzerland, we see value in launching a temporary discussion list on this topic. The discussion is intended to last about half a year. This endeavour is similar to a temporary list on old-growth forest (see archives) that was run by IUFRO Working Unit 6.03.02 in 1997.

Objectives

  1. to exchange and explore views of forest health, and the related terminology;
  2. to elucidate what is common in our views and terminology of forest health, and what is different;
  3. to explore conceptual and terminological differences between forest health and related concepts such as ecosystem health and sustainable forest management;
  4. to establish a conceptual model of the facets of forest health; and
  5. to share experiences in communicating forest health issues to the public.

An additional objective, if appropriate, will be to write up a scientific review paper on the perceptions and concepts of forest health, reflecting the discussion and new insights that it creates.

Who should subscribe

If you are interested in forest health, we encourage you to join the discussion and share your questions and insights. In your professional or private life, you are dealing with forest health issues. You may be a scientist, a forest resource manager, or simply have interest in the topic.

How to subscribe

If you wish to subscribe, please send an e-mail message to listproc@NRCan.gc.ca with the following command in the message body: subscribe termforhealth-list firstname lastname. Leave the subject line of your message blank. You should receive a message acknowledging your subscription almost immediately.

Harry Hirvonen
Canadian Forest Service
Sir William Logan Building - 12th Floor
580 Bootch Street
Ottawa Ontario K1A 0E4
Canada

Peter Brang
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research
Section Ecosystems and Ecological Risks
8903 Birmensdorf
Switzerland
peter.brang@wsl.ch


Last update: 2-DEC-99 / mk - Comments to IUFRO 6.03.02 WebModerator

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