Abstract:

Scale is an important paradigm in ecology as well as in sustainable forest management (SFM). In this paper, the basic scale, including space and time dimensions, and its selection,limitations of the sustained working applied in traditional forestry is expounded. The author points out that basic selection of the spatia-temporal scales for traditional forest management unit was wood-production-orientated, having intrinsic deficiency in adjusting to SFM. According to the characteristic and goal of SFM, a broader view in term of scale selection and reorientation should be introduced and applied. In SFM, more profound considerations including how to make a fundamental contribution to regional and global sustainability, how to maintain dynamic mosaic stability at landscape or watershed level, and how to integrate biodiversity protection, landscape planning, sustainable land utilization and other eco-environmental concerns into forest management practice should be taken into full account. Based on a rough illustration about the relationship between landscape management and sustainable development, the article then gives a deep analysis of the unique value of landscape scale as a basic spatial management unit for SFM. And, accordingly, the temporal scale, traditionally embodied in various rotation periods to manage forest production should also be adjusted and expanded in accordance with forest eco-system’s biological and ecological rhythm. And, a preliminary discussion about the application of watershed scale and ecological cycle in SFM are also held. China is now conducting forestry classified management reform, after which much more forestry land will be demarcated as non commercial forest zone (NCFZ). The suggestions put forward in this study will be more constructive to future NCFZ, on which ecological use instead of timber use will be dominated.

Key words: sustainable forest management, managed unit, spatial scale, temporal scale, landscape, watershed, ecological cycle