Intensifying Forest Management and Biomass Harvests: Consequences for Sustainability

This study examines the effects of intensified forest management and increased biomass harvesting on ecosystem sustainability. Two main strategies are analyzed: extending harvest to include residues such as canopies, stumps, roots, and small-diameter trees; and enhancing tree growth through nutrient inputs, particularly using low-cost waste products like wood ashes and sludge. The authors evaluate how removing additional biomass can deplete essential nutrients, disturb ecosystem functions, and how high rates of waste-based fertilization may lead to ecological disorders or pollution. The paper emphasizes the trade-offs between higher timber yields and maintaining long-term soil fertility and forest health under intensified regimes.