Forestry and long range planning

The traditional approach of foresters to the uncertainty endemic in an undertaking with a planning horizon which often must extend over several decades is summarized. The manner in which foresters have adapted more recently developed planning techniques to the requirements of forestry planning is then briefly described and it is concluded that however refined the techniques and however skilful their application, investment in tree growing must still imply a large measure of simple faith in the continuing utility of forest outputs to future generations.