Franklin, J FLohmus, A.Baker, SimonBauhus, JuergenBeese, W.Brodie, A.Kiehl, B.Kouki, J.Martinez Pastur, G.Messier, ChristianNeyland, M.Palik, B.Sverdrup-Thygeson, A.Volney, J.Wayne, A.Gustafsson, LenaLindenmayer, David B2015-12-101755-263Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/1885/63430Approximately 85% of the global forest estate is neither formally protected nor in areas dedicated to intensive wood production (e.g., plantations). Given the spatial extent of unprotected forests, finding management approaches that will sustain their multiple environmental, economic, and cultural values and prevent their conversion to other uses is imperative. The major global challenge of native forest management is further demonstrated by ongoing steep declines in forest biodiversity and carbon stocks. Here, we suggest that an essential part of such management-supplementing the protection of large reserves and sensitive areas within forest landscapes (e.g., aquatic features)-is the adoption of the retention approach in forests where logging occurs. This ecological approach to harvesting provides for permanent retention of important selected structures (e.g., trees and decayed logs) to provide for continuity of ecosystem structure, function, and species composition in the postharvest forest. The retention approach supports the integration of environmental, economic, and cultural values and is broadly applicable to tropical, temperate, and boreal forests, adaptable to different management objectives, and appropriate in different societal settings. The widespread adoption of the retention approach would be one of the most significant changes in management practice since the onset of modern high-yield forestry.en-AUAuthor/s retain copyrightKeywords: Altered forest policy; Altered logging practices; Ecological forestry; Ecologically sustainable forest management; Forest biodiversity conservation; Forest ecosystem processesA major shift to the retention approach for forestry can help resolve some global forest sustainability issues201210.1111/j.1755-263X.2012.00257.x2016-02-24