National Policies for Natural Forest Management: An Effort Toward Ecosystem Restoration, Recovery, and Rehabilitation

Abstract

Proper forest management in Colombia requires an approach grounded in ecosystem services and a recognition of biodiversity that goes beyond viewing forests merely as timber suppliers. Forests provide supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural ecosystem services for human well-being. The country has 61 million hectares of natural forest requiring restoration, recovery, and rehabilitation processes. Many stakeholders hold rights and responsibilities regarding the management of our ecosystems, and many drivers contribute to forest change and loss. Governance and sound forest administration processes must be guaranteed to ensure the continuity of these ecosystems and their biodiversity.