Protecting Virginia's Nontidal Wetlands: Advice from the Roundtable

The forest products industry has recently initiated a research program to address the need for further information regarding silviculture in forested wetlands and its environmental effects. Forested wetlands are extremely important sources of timber and have high sustainability productivity given proper management. Indeed, the National Wetlands Policy Forum recognized appropriate forest management as a "compatible use" of wetlands which can provide economic returns to landowners while preserving other wetland functions and values/ The Forum recommended that private landowners be encouraged to practice sound sivicultural practices in wetlands and that timber companies pursue research to enhance both environmental protection and economic returns.