Environmental consequences of intensively managed forest plantations in the Pacific Northwest

Abstract

Environmental consequences of intensively managed forest plantations (IMFP) are manifested primarily through influences on biodiversity, soils, and water resources. These consequences may be positive, neutral, or negative, depending on the spatial and temporal context and site-specific details. Many aspects of environmental consequences of IMFPs are increasingly understood, but significant gaps in our knowledge remain. Societal environmental goals and objectives of IMFPs remain poorly articulated and fuel a lively, often heated, social dialogue that will likely continue for some time to come.