Conceptual clarity is important to attain precise communication of scientific knowledge and to implement appropriate technological and policy actions. Many concepts referring to forest management are widely used by decision-makers, regardless of their complexity. Although the scientific and methodological issues of forestry practices are frequently discussed in the literature, their normative dimensions are rarely treated. Thus, linguistic uncertainty increases when different environmentally ethical perspectives and ways of valuing forests are considered. The objective was to compare different conceptualizations on the silvicultural systems suggested for forest management and the implications they have for conservation. We have conceptually contrasted high-intensity forestry practices with variable retention harvesting, considering different environmentally ethical perspectives and forest valuation alternatives. Clear boundaries between clear-cutting, selective logging, and variable retention harvesting can be evidenced when different ethical points of view and alternatives in the human-nature relationships are considered. We have found a variety of definitions of variable retention harvesting that can be analyzed under different ethical positions. Sharply contrasting views on variable retention harvesting can be evidenced if nature is considered to be purely at human’s service or if it is conceptualized as humans co-inhabiting with nature. The latter position implies that the maintenance of ecological, evolutionary, and historical processes supported by unmanaged forest stands is a crucial step for forest management proposals based on variable retention harvesting. Forestry practices that are focused on forest yields and that misinterpret functional uncertainty of forest functioning would be risky. Moreover, forestry with variable retention harvesting could imply good yields with reasonable conservation management in some contexts, while it could be unacceptable in other socio-ecological contexts. The improvement of conceptual clarity on the different meanings of variable retention harvesting and the development of indicators for forest management based on the variations of this concept can reduce controversies.

中文翻译：

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可变保留采伐：根据不同的环境伦理和森林估价进行概念分析

概念的清晰性对于获得科学知识的精确交流以及实施适当的技术和政策行动非常重要。决策者广泛使用许多涉及森林管理的概念，而不论其复杂性如何。尽管文献中经常讨论林业实践的科学和方法论问题，但很少讨论其规范性方面。因此，当考虑不同的环境伦理观点和评估森林的方法时，语言的不确定性会增加。目的是比较建议用于森林管理的造林系统的不同概念及其对保护的意义。我们在概念上将高强度林业实践与可变保留采伐进行了对比，考虑不同的环境伦理观点和森林评估方案。当考虑到不同的伦理观点和人与自然关系的替代方案时，就可以证明明确砍伐，选择性伐木和可变保留采伐之间的界限清晰。我们发现了可变保留收获的各种定义，可以在不同的道德立场下进行分析。如果认为自然纯粹是为人类服务或将其概念化为人类与自然共同居住，则可以证明对可变保留收获的观点截然不同。后一种立场意味着维护生态，进化，无管理的林分支持的历史过程是基于可变保留采伐的森林管理建议的关键步骤。侧重于森林产量和误解森林功能的功能不确定性的林业实践将具有风险。此外，在某些情况下，采用可变保留采伐的林业可能意味着良好的产量和合理的养护管理，而在其他社会生态环境下则可能不可接受。关于可变保留采伐的不同含义的概念清晰度的改进以及基于该概念变化的森林经营指标的开发可以减少争议。保留采伐量可变的林业在某些情况下可能意味着通过合理的养护管理才能获得良好的收成，而在其他社会生态环境下则可能无法接受。关于可变保留采伐的不同含义的概念清晰度的改进以及基于该概念变化的森林经营指标的开发可以减少争议。保留采伐量可变的林业在某些情况下可能意味着通过合理的养护管理才能获得良好的收成，而在其他社会生态环境下则可能无法接受。关于可变保留采伐的不同含义的概念清晰度的改进以及基于该概念变化的森林经营指标的开发可以减少争议。