Forests for People

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Sustainability indicators,

decision-making and people

Diana Vötter, Marja Kolström and Rach Colling, European Forest Institute

here are different dimensions of sustainability: economic,

environmental, social and cultural. But no matter what

the dimension, they all ultimately have an effect on

people. The economy matters, not only for economic reasons,

but because it affects people (employment, the chance to make

a living). Environmental impacts are so striking because besides

the environment itself, they also affect people (for example,

through health problems due to pollution, water shortages,

landslides or forest fires threatening settlements).

Take the example of forests. They are vital because they provide

oxygen, water, energy, shelter, wildlife, biodiversity, carbon storage,

livelihoods, myths and stories, beauty, tranquillity, recreation,

construction materials and non-forest products – for people.

The people affected by forests and forestry can be

directly or indirectly involved with the forest-based

sector. They can live near to local forests or even far

away in urban areas and still be linked to forestry and

forest products. Therefore, sustainable management

and practices in the forest-based sector matter, as do

the decisions that are made. Their impacts can be felt a

long way down the chain.

But how can decision makers know what the impacts

on forests are from an economic, environmental, social

or other point of view? These impacts can be quanti-

fied and assessed using different types of sustainability

indicators. The assessments do not produce a ‘right’

or ‘wrong’ answer – but do help decision makers to

People can be affected by forests, wherever they live

Image: EFI