International Union of Forest Research Organizations
Abstract
The following points may be useful as the beginnings of a checklist: 1. What is the purpose of assessing sustainability of forest management (e.g. operations, planning, policy, international agreements)? 2. What scale is relevant (e.g. compartment, forest, watershed, nation, global)? 3. What actors are involved (e.g. communities, government, corporations)? 4. What are relevant sustainability goals to be discussed among actors (consider economics e.g. yields, revenue; ecology e.g. biodiversity, water quality; social aspects e.g. tenure) 5. Assess sustainability goals and highlight information requirements in the light of system behaviour and use, with special consideration of the likely timing and location of potential problems (e.g. anticipated or unpredictable, minor or catastrophic, single event or continuing trend, localized or widespread), and the anticipated nature of observable problems. 6. Define indicators of sustainability and consider suitable measurement scales (e.g. present/absent, qualitative, quantitative). 7. Define when, where and how to measure these indicators, giving special attention to the sampling scheme (e.g. purposive, systematic, stratified random). 8. Select and apply a suitable assessment methodology (e.g. permanent sample plots, environmental impact assessment, forest resource accounting, cost-benefit analysis). 9. Reconsider and, if necessary, revise the entire procedure from step 1 in the light of interim results of the assessment
