“What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.” With these words, Chris Maser, author of Forest Primeval: The Natural History of an Ancient Forest, and an old friend of mine, sums up the case for sustainable forestry. Forests are the lungs of the earth, home to a fascinating diversity of flora and fauna, the progenitor of natural medicines, and the source of fire and building materials upon which so much of civilization has depended. Over the past few decades, however, it has become clear that the earth’s forests cannot continue to be treated simply as resources for the taking, and that we must become active stewards of the forests to ensure their longevity. Allow me to take you on a short journey back.
