FORESTS AS HUMAN-DOMINATED ECOSYSTEMS

Forests are human-dominated ecosystems. Many of the seemingly lightly managed or unmanaged forests are actually in use for agroforestry or f or hunting and gathering. Agroforestry does reduce biodiversity, but i t can also act as an effective buffer to forest clearance and conversi on to other land uses, which present the greatest threat to forested e cosystems. In forests used for logging, whole-landscape management is crucial. Here, emphasis is placed on areas of intensive use interspers ed with areas for conservation and catchment purposes. Management stra tegies for sustainable forestry are being developed, but there is a ne ed for further interaction among foresters, ecologists, community repr esentatives, social scientists, and economists.