Nature finds its own way. Even without any management, forest will pave its own way. But manipulation and management can increase the productivity of forest and also can prevent many unwanted events like - wild fire, pest attack, conservation and management of any endangered species. But, while such management practice, the very natural condition of the forest will be disturbed for both flora and faunas; and such disturbance may negatively effect them. So, shall we encourage management and manipulation inside a natural forest - considering the above mentioned aspects ?
I think if the natural forests are degraded or in a state of degradation, human aided management practices will be beneficial even for flora and fauna. If the state of the natural forest is good, it is not wise to do any management activities unless the activities will enhance its state of well being. Also, it is PRE-REQUISITE to have a good management plan and careful supervision to assist natural forest.
I think that you are portraying a fictitious separation between humans and nature. Is this forest affected by climate change? Or by past indigenous actions? Management nor lack of management are neither natural or unnatural. If the social aim is to protect the forest, to foster biodiversity, etc, you can manage it for this. Even not allowing certain activities is a management decision. The choice is not between intervention on nature or not, but to decide what kind of relationship with other beings we foster.
Our forests are so diverse in nature, they react so differently to human economic activity, they change so much over time that the success of forestry largely depends on the life experience and intuition of specialists.
What is mean by a "natural forest" and what is meant by "management?" Worldwide, human impact has left few areas in their natural state. If not effected directly by humans, introduction of non-native species, acid rain or other airborne pollutants, and climate change are altering "natural" systems. Human influence on terrestrial ecosystems is now so widespread that deciding not to apply management to an area and just let natural processes play out, is itself a management decision.
Agreeing on the majority of the above answers, it seems quite simplistic the idea of both "natural forest" and "management". Productivity of forest may in fact increase in theorie if some cuttings are done, but practices show that in old mature forests like primary forests, only a very slightly intervention can be done. Local indigenous communities practices are usually the best practices.
Natural forest can be manipulated or can be applied some management practices to improve the forest status, also If the natural forest has been degraded or has been altered by any form of human activities, such Forest needs some level of forest management or manipulation to restore it original status.
Yes, I agree that natural forest could be sustainability due to government regulation not to be conversed into oil palm plantation. But, the problem in Indonesia, natural forest easily conversed to oil palm plantation, mining concession due to lack of law enforcement and government protection.
I do agree with the answer that whether to intervene or not to, is a management decision, so is a management. Again, if the definition of natural forest is a forest not influence by human, then I am sorry that probably you will not find any natural forest in the world. There are mentions that even 12000 years ago some north American forests were used/modified by human. Now, regarding productivity, it depends on how the productivity is defined. An ecologist would probably define productivity as biomass/unit area, but to a forester productivity is the volume of salable product/unit area or money generated per unit area. If you adopt the earlier definition, natural forests are likely to be more productive if they are not under retrogression. But mind that we need forest resources, even the ancient people used forest resources. Thus intervention into the natural processes and the consequences are probably unavoidable. Now this a question of making trade off. Again, mind that we are part and parcel of ecosystems - infact we belong to world ecosystem. So our actions are also part of the natural processes. Now we need look in the extent we intervene, to the extent we modify forest. If we are conservative in management like traditionally forest people, the impact will be less. So, whether to intervene the natural processes, to what extent to intervene are policy decisions. Unfortunately these decisions are often made based on limited information and very short sighted, which bring all disasters.
Understanding the terms correctly is very important in forestry. It is necessary to distinguish forests:
1) by method of restoration: forests with natural regeneration, coppice forests, forest cultures, and crossings;
2) according to the preservation of ecosystems: primaral (ancient) forests or virgin forests, secondary (oldgrowth) forests, commercial forests, plantations etc;
Commercial (utility) forests are classified according to many criteria, most often:
a) according to the management system: selection system, group systems (with or without fertilization fellings), bare felling system, and others;
b) by structure and age: selective (multi-age), two-storey (two-period), single-storey (one-age) stands;
c) according to the purpose of management: commercial forests, special purpose forests, protective forests, etc.
Some countries have been predominantly applying selective forest management systems with natural regeneration for over a century. Consistently applied, this system changes absolutely nothing in the forest stand, although ~ 10% of wood stock / every decade is taken from the stands.
So you don’t have to be wise, it’s enough to get to know forestry.
Sumit Kumar Das i can see 2 questions in your single question and very interesting to know the expert views and I do agree with A K Fazlul Hoque the views shared are in line with your question and as far as one part of your question I can say that the link am sharing answers the same
https://extension.psu.edu/management-practices-for-enhancing-wildlife-habitat
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