While no one should doubt that forest management activities can not lose money and continue for long, the search for the holy grail of sustainable forest management seems to always mention ecological sustainability as an afterthought if at all. Bottom line: primary forests must be made off-limits, first time harvest forever reduces them. Activities that seek to sustainably manage planted and regenerating natural forests are welcome. Even in the latter case, economics must be secondary to environmental considerations, and if harvest can not occur profitably, the forests should be left standing and untouched.

U.N.: Economic Viability Critical for Sustainable Forest Management

Economic viability, including the environmental and social benefits deriving from forests, is a pre-requisite for wider adoption of sustainable forest management practices, says a new report by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.