The social functions of the forest

Abstract

To look at forest uses in a historical perspective leads to find out that the multifunctionality of forest is an old story, as well as to understand that forest uses have always been a matter of conflicts. Forest belongs to long term. From the Middle Ages to the Industrial Revolution, forests have been the main – nearly unique – source of energy. Its ressources provided work to many craft and manufacturing industries. Finally, through the customary rights, farmers made forests an annex of the fields: complementary pastoral area and mine of fertilising materials. Same activities, same uses, same never ending conflicts between the eminent owners of the soil and the neighbouring populations. But, from the beginning of the XIXth century, the use of wood and the forest uses have been deeply transformed. More and more subjected to the needs of the industry, the forest became gradually separated from the rural economy, when it was more and more frequented by urban people looking for Nature recreation. Owners and managers need today to take into account new "social functions" of the forests. It means they are facing new uses and have to take care of their impact on stands dynamics. It means also they are facing new conflicts of uses and they should arbitrate between their objectives and those of users. After looking at the possibilities of law and economical calculation, as well as their limits, the paper invites to look into the rationality of political debates the way of defining compromises acceptable by all stakeholders.