Forests are the great terrestrial counterpart of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Any increase in forest biomass - either living or dead - reduces the carbon dioxide content in the Earth's atmosphere. Conversely, forest devastation irrevocably leads to the release of carbon dioxide. Sustainably managed forest can supply technical systems with a permanent flow of biomass - wood in particular - which in turn is then able, both as material and energy source, to operate self-sufficiently as far as raw material and energy requirements are concerned. In this way sustained biological production warrants carbon dioxide neutrality. The complex system of forestry and timber management therefore represents an absolute exception in the present technics era. All this leads to the realization that one of the great possibilities in mitigating the carbon dioxide problem consists in putting forestry and wood utilization into a global context. There is a wide range of possibilities how to achieve this aim, as compiled in Overview No. 3, from which another three findings may be deduced: Forestry is not, by any means, a conditio sine qua non for the existence of forests, in fact rather the reverse is true: Forestry effects changes in forests and poor forestry practices may damage or destroy forests. For a great number of reasons, inter alia carbon dioxide related environmental ones, it is therefore necessary to preserve virgin forests on the largest possible areas and to avoid interfering with their inherent dynamics. Worldwide, foresters will have to take this into account much more than in the past, so as to fulfil their important objective in its entire scope and to ensure that natural forest preservation remains within their domain. - Forestry management measures must be applied to large areas if they are to have carbon dioxide related effectivity and economic relevance. Overview No. 3 shows that a potential of billions of hectares of suitable areas exists which could be used without affecting agricultural or grazing necessities: Forestry is an activity that has only recently been introduced throughout the world. Forest management measures of the described kind and scope can only be realized in accordance with local populations and by providing employment and income alternatives from the very start. In many regions of the globe this is the only way to launch simple rural industrial cultures capable of checking disastrous rural exodus tendencies. Moreover, these industrial cultures would be autonomous in terms of energy and thus exemplary. The considerable investment costs involved in the preservation and restoration of forests, fully justified for global environmental reasons, are of an order which technically sophisticated states can afford and will be compelled to afford if they accept that carbon dioxide problems have to be addressed. At the same time they will have to realize that the era of fossile energy surplus is also coming to an end due to the depletion of resources. Another point of interest is, what is the role of Central European silviculture in this giant tapestry of world forestry? In this context the following can be stated: First of all we must become much more conscious of the fact that silviculture in Central Europe is merely the regional version of a global option. Most silvicultural approaches developed here are valid - with local modifications - all over the world. What appeared to be a European problem in the classical forestry era of the 19th century, i.e. improvement of degraded forests and re-stocking of clear-cut areas, proves to be the global challenge of this day and age. The issue no longer is merely a question of the production of wood as an industrial and energy resource, but the crucial significance of the system forests, forestry and timber management to the Earth's Carbon budget. Experts need to internalize these complex interrelations and assist in bringing this realization to the attention of politicians and the general public. All basic silvicultural concepts, from the immensely productive but highly endangered plantations to selection forests, are children of Central European silviculture which are being adopted all over the world. The accent, however, is clearly on simplified approaches. FAUSTMANN with his fundamental equation is the man of the hour. Central Europe meanwhile looks back on 200 years theoretical and practical experience in silviculture. Against the background of an unrelenting series of catastrophes one realization has become uppermost in our minds: As impressive as the successes of plantation forests may seem - whether spruce or eucalyptus - catastrophical events constantly put sustainability at risk, with the threat of further aggravation on account of expected environmental changes, above all of a climatic kind. Forest management with preservation of the greatest possible number of natural forest characteristics, - i.e. natural tree species, genetically diverse populations, permanence of stocking wherever possible, natural regeneration, no energy-intensive measures such as soil cultivation, fertilization or preventive chemical plant protection - should be the well-researched contribution of Central European silviculture to world forestry. Next to FAUSTMANN, COTTA, GAYER and MOLLER should be given much greater weight throughout the world.
