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Submitted to: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
Publication Type: Other Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/1997 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: The boreal forest is the largest forest region in North America, spanning 20o of latitude, 110o of longitude, and covering 5.12 million km2. With increasing population and human demand for goods and services, advances in technology for resource extraction, improved transportation and communication, heightened concerns about the global environment, and decreases in availability of resources on a global scale, the boreal forest is now recognized as a finite resource requiring long-term stewardship. This paper provides an overview of the physical and biological factors that determine the potential for sustainable development of the boreal forest of North America. Boreal forest physical, biological and geographic characteristics are described. Effects which humans have had on the resource and implications for sustainability of resources are summarized. Technical Abstract: The boreal forest is the largest forest region in North America. This paper provides an overview of the physical and biological factors that determine the potential for sustainable development of the boreal forest of North America. Boreal forest physical, biological and geographic characteristics are described. Effects which humans have had on the resource and implications for sustainability of resources are summarized. |
