Other Uses of Forests

Recreation

Forests have always been popular for outdoor activities. Hiking, camping, fishing, sight-seeing, boating are all recreational pursuits for which the forest can be exploited, and if well managed, all of these can be of immense benefit to the immediate community as well as to the forest authorities.

Forests are fun!
With increasing urbanisation, the demand for outdoor recreational facilities rises, and therefore the need for forested lands near metropolitan areas to be managed accordingly. While natural beauty is enough to attract visitors, forest management authorities have to budget for access roads, camp sites, parking lots, beach facilities, docks and so on with minimal damage to the forest itself.

Popular destinations for recreation
In many parts of the world, state forests have regulations regarding hunting and fishing. Even private forest owners acknowledge that opening the forest for recreational activities means not just economic benefit but is also good management practice. The Forestry Commission in Britain has over 800,000 ha of forest under its management, and they provide opportunities for walking, cycling, driving, horse riding, orienteering, camping, caravaning, fishing, bird-watching and more. As many as 350 million day trips are made to the forests. Similarly, the Adelaide Hills forests in Australia recorded over 200,000 visitor days in one year in a study done in 1996.

Regulations for visitors required to preserve ecosystem
Popular though forest recreation activities might be, there are strict regulations. To enjoy the benefits of the forest, one must be mindful of the ecosystem and of other people - whether visitors or locals. Planning for forest recreational uses requires special expertise. Design of visitor uses, layout of facilities and conservation considerations - all need specific skills.

If the call for more and more recreational facilities in natural wilderness areas can be harnessed into conserving fragments of unconquered land and water resources - what many call the last remaining heritage of our past - it could contribute significantly to preserving the depleting forest cover.